On Tuesday, the 28th of October, Andrew Willcox MP attended Parliament House’s Head to the Hill event on behalf of Elenna Savorgnan’s mother, Maria.
Hosted by Brain Tumour Alliance Australia (BTAA), 2025’s Head to the Hill initiative marks the third year since the event’s debut, raising awareness for the unimproved life expectancy from brain tumours and highlighting the devastating financial, social, physical, cognitive and emotional impact on patients, families, carers and communities.
“I was honoured to attend the Head to the Hill event at Parliament House, a powerful gathering of patients, families, and advocates raising awareness of one of the most devasting cancers,” said Mr Willcox.
“It was incredibly emotional to put faces to the footprints represented by pairs of shoes, to meet families, survivors, and advocates and see firsthand the heartbreaking impact this disease has on so many lives.”
Elenna was diagnosed with Group 3 Medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood brain cancer, last year at just two years old. After over a year of treatments and trails, little Elenna tragically lost her battle at three years old, changing the lives of her parents, Maria and Marty, forever.
“Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and adults under 40, and survival rates have seen little improvement in decades. The voices of families like Maria’s must be heard. Their experiences should guide better policy, research, and support services for all Australians affected,” explained Mr Willcox.
The gathering stood as an opportunity for attendees to visualise the impact of brain tumours through the placing of shoes on the pathways of Parliament House courtyard. The display brought together a large number of shoes of varying sizes to clearly represent the impact that brain tumours have on people of regardless of age, gender or background.
“Events like this unite communities and remind us that behind every statistic is a life, a family, and a story that deserves to be told.”
For more information on Brain Tumour Alliance Australia and the Head to the Hill initiative, visit btaa.org.au.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2023 Burdekin Life Pty Ltd.
