Better Challenge 2026: 90km. 30 days. One incredible community!
2026-10-08
Better treatments, better outcomes and a better future for children and young people with cancer
This year’s Better Challenge, powered by Betta, brought our community together throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to help create better treatments, better outcomes and a better future for children and young people with cancer.
Over 1,200 individuals, teams and workplaces took on the 90km challenge – representing the 90 Aussie kids diagnosed with cancer every month. Across 30 days, you walked, ran, moved, fundraised and cheered each other on, covering over 70,000 km and raising more than $338,000 for childhood cancer research.
And your support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month will have an impact well beyond September. Thanks to our community coming together, The Kids’ Cancer Project is committing $2.70 million over three years to seven Col Reynolds Fellowships, helping build the next generation of Australian researchers, clinicians and allied health professionals.
More than a challenge
The Better Challenge became a month-long celebration of what can happen when workplaces, teams and individuals come together for a shared purpose.
From WOTSO’s activities across its sites, to Mostyn Copper’s weekly sunrise walks and Thursday Run Club, participants found plenty of ways to get moving and bring their communities along for the journey.
We also kicked off the challenge at our Better Challenge Launch Breakfast, celebrated a $7,500 gift from Club Hibernia, and saw workplaces including BSR, Investa and Mostyn Copper rally their teams through internal matching initiatives. BSR topped the corporate leaderboard, raising over $116,000, inclusive of their $20,000 matching pool for the campaign.
Our Better Challenge Strava Group also flourished throughout the month, growing to 375 members and giving participants a place to connect, share their progress and keep each other motivated.
Powered by Betta
We’re delighted to have Betta as our Better Challenge naming partner this year and incredibly grateful for their support.
Their partnership helped us deliver a record-breaking matching day, with $20,000 in donations matched in just five hours – the fastest our matching funds have ever been claimed. Thank you to Betta for helping make this year’s challenge possible and for standing alongside our community in the fight against childhood cancer.
"We're incredibly proud of what our BSR network achieved throughout the Better Challenge this year. Topping the corporate leaderboard is a reflection of the genuine passion our store teams, suppliers and support office staff have for this cause, and we couldn't be prouder to have our name on a campaign that raised over $338,000 for childhood cancer research.
As naming rights partner, we're committed to more than just showing up; we want to use the reach of our network to make a real difference for kids and families facing cancer. The Better Challenge is just one part of that, and we're already looking forward to what we can do together in 2027."
— Gavin Carter, Chief Growth Officer, Betta / BSR Group
Celebrating our Better Challenge leaders
Every participant played an important part, whether they completed the full 90km, made a donation, rallied their workplace or encouraged someone else to keep going. We’d also like to recognise those who went above and beyond throughout the challenge.
Individual leaderboard
1. Matt Harris – $13,100
2. Brian O’Manin – $12,221
3. Hannah Owens – $4,328
4. Emma Lewis – $3,960
5. Livvy and Isy – $3,306
Team leaderboard
1. Johnstaff – $20,000
2. The Yard Carringbah – $10,370
3. Ks for Coops – $9,727
4. Corporate Operations (Investa) – $7,468
5. The Yard Menai – $5,558
Organisation leaderboard
1. BSR Group – $76,257
2. Investa – $46,207
3. Mostyn Copper – $24,607
4. Flender – $20,788
5. WOTSO – $19,093
Thank you for helping us do BETTER
To every participant, fundraiser, donor, team captain, workplace and supporter – thank you. Your energy, generosity and determination have helped turn 30 days of movement into meaningful support for childhood cancer research – helping give researchers the opportunity to discover new approaches, improve treatments and find better ways to care for children and young people with cancer.
"I’ve really loved taking part in the challenge, and it’s honestly been great for my mental health during this time, to get me out of the house and moving too – and no better cause. The work you’re all doing at The Kids’ Cancer Project for children like mine is amazing, and my family and I are so grateful."
— Hannah, Better Challenge participant and parent of a child currently receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia