We’ve struck gold! Here’s what our fundraisers got up to for Pirate Day 2025
2025-06-17
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Coinciding with Brain Cancer Awareness Month, The Kids’ Cancer Project’s 2025 edition of Pirate Day has seen over $87,000 raised for vital kids’ brain cancer research.
Embracing eyepatches, swords and plenty of stripes, schools and businesses across the country all boarded their own ships as we set a course for a world without brain cancer.
The most aggressive of all childhood cancers, the need to fund brain cancer research is at a critical point. Thanks to our fundraisers, $87,000 could potentially fund the pilot studies to test the safety of at least three new cancer drugs, bringing researchers closer to human clinical trials for kids with brain cancer.
We spoke to a handful of our incredible fundraisers, who celebrated Pirate Day in their own way. Here’s what they got up to!
Wezzy
Wezzy Cruze, a content creator who streams himself playing pirate-themed games on Twitch, managed to raise over $1,500 for childhood cancer research via the innovative fundraising widget on the platform. He says the engagement from his community blew him away.
“My goal was to hit the $1,000 mark, to which I said I'd dye my hair pink if we reached it, I wasn't thinking we'd hit it so soon,” he says. “I raised it again after that and said I'd do a cooking stream, and people hit that goal too. So, now I'm doing a cooking stream with pink hair, and I'm super excited about that!
“I strongly believe that every child deserves a fighting chance at a bright future, and being involved in the fundraising efforts means I can play a small part in trying to keep that future bright for them.”
Portsea Pirates
The Portsea Pirates (pictured top), a group of ladies that play golf at the Portsea Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula, were one of our most engaged fundraisers. With the help of The Kids’ Cancer Project, the club’s Pro Shop and the hospitality team, the ladies had quite the day.
Involving themselves completely within the Pirate Day spirit, the golfers had rolling pins and knife sharpeners for weapons, parrot-shaped earrings, tattoo sleeves and plenty of stripes! There was a rum-based Dark ‘n’ Stormy on the cocktail menu, with Buccaneer Bingo following lunch and plenty of prizes on offer.
“Our day was just perfect”, says Glenda Edmond, Chair of the Women’s Committee at Portsea Golf Club.
“A lot of people were unaware that more children in Australia die of brain cancer than any other disease. Pirate Day created a strong enthusiasm for donations, with the entire club helping us to raise $1,551!
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Gumnut Gardens
ELCs form a large number of Pirate Day fundraisers, with many preschools collecting much-needed treasure for childhood brain cancer research. Paddington’s Gumnut Gardens is one such ELC, who had a fantastic Pirate Day campaign both on the day and in preparation to take on the high seas.
Donations made via QR codes and bake sales drove much of Gumnut’s donations, culminating in a total of $3,522. Pirate-themed games and activities took place on Pirate Day, with the entire centre transformed into imaginative pirate ships, supporting the socio-dramatic role play of students.
Gumnut Gardens Director, Liesel Murphy, says there’s one moment that stands out above the rest.
“One deeply moving and memorable moment was receiving a large donation just before our first bake sale. In speaking with the family, we learned that a relative of theirs had been personally affected, with their child diagnosed with brain cancer,” she says.
“It was a bittersweet exchange, while emotional, it created a powerful connection between our cause and our community. That moment brought even more purpose to our fundraiser and reminded us of the very real impact this cause has on the lives of families.
“Days like Pirate Day spark meaningful conversations with children and families, helping to foster empathy, community spirit, and a sense of agency. They also show children that collective action, even through something as fun as dressing up and playing pirates, can make a real-world difference.
“It’s a powerful way to engage hearts and minds while supporting vital research and the families affected by this devastating illness.”
Jo’s Roadhouse
Heading north from Paddington to Avondale on Queensland’s southern coastline, Jo’s Roadhouse converted into a buccaneer’s haven during Brain Cancer Awareness Month, as the humble convenience store managed to raise over $1,600 for vital brain cancer research.
Lindon Josefski, Jo himself, says that once the community came to grips with the pirate costumes and new decor, they got right behind them. Not too bad for a fundraiser that came across Pirate Day entirely by chance!
“How we got involved was purely accidental. My daughter didn’t understand what the Labour Day public holiday was for. At one point, she asked me, ‘why can’t we have fun days like a Pirate Day?’”
“I looked it up and sure enough, there it was. I mentioned it as a bit of a joke—maybe we should do this—and then it just went from there.
“There's not a lot of awareness for childhood brain cancer, especially where we are. You don’t hear about these things much unless you're directly affected by it.
“You just don’t think of these things, especially in little kids. People often associate cancer with adults, unless it’s something that’s happened within their own family. It’s why days like this are so important.”
We’d like to thank each and every one of our fundraisers for their support this Pirate Day. Together, we’re taking step towards realising our dream of no child dying from brain cancer.