Among the positives of a tough 2020 was the reminder that we are stronger together as a community. On February 7, RUN DIPG's community will tackle its latest ambitious event to raise funds for our children and theirs in the future.

RUN DIPG founders Matt and Phoebe Dun, together with a pod of supporters, will swim a 20km relay through Merewether Ocean Baths raising funds and awareness of the fatal brain stem cancer 'diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma' (DIPG).

Originally planned for a Lake Macquarie course (Belmont 16s to Pulbah Island and back), the charity have decided to move the event to the Merewether location based on safety advice from Maritime Services NSW. Shout out to Newcastle Council and Belmont 16s for their ongoing support of the event!

RUN DIPG is a registered charity founded in December 2019 by family and friends of the Dun Family, after their first-born child Josie was diagnosed with DIPG the year prior. A condition primarily diagnosed in children, DIPG survival expectancy is mere months as there are no treatments currently available.

Josie lost her brave fight against DIPG but her legacy remains in the ground-breaking research Associate Professor Matt Dun and his team are undertaking at The University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute. A biomedical scientist by trade, Matt's research seeks to understand how the DIPG tumour grows and survives, and to find or develop treatments that specifically target these characteristics.

Make a donation to the RUNDIPG Dive into the Pons challenge, show your support for the committed swimmers and for the dedicated RUNDIPG team, with proceeds going towards much needed DIPG medical research.

See you at 7am, February 7th, Merewether Ocean Baths! Purchase your RUN DIPG merch, cheer on the swimmers, and join the post-event celebration at Belmont 16s from 3pm.