The generosity of the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley community is helping to bring breast cancer research to the region, as the Icon Cancer Foundation-funded PUMA clinical trial expands to Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba.
Over the years, community fundraising initiatives led by the Lockyer Valley Growers Inc., Nolan’s Interstate Transport, Truckin Republic and the Withcott Hotel have united local businesses, growers and community members in support of Icon Cancer Foundation (ICF) to raise vital funds for cancer research.
That support has now played an important role in helping improve access to clinical trials for women with early-stage breast cancer across regional Queensland.
Currently available at Icon Cancer Centre Windsor Gardens, Hobart and Wahroonga, PUMA’s recent expansion marks an important milestone for the region and Icon’s ongoing commitment to providing equitable access to research.
Learn more about the PUMA clinical trial.
Community impact in action
From banquets showcasing the region’s finest produce to lunches hosted by sporting legends, spectacular fireworks displays and an ICF-branded truck travelling Queensland’s highways, the Lockyer Valley community has transformed local generosity into research opportunities for patients across Australia – and now, within their own community.
Lockyer Valley Growers Association
Since 2023, the Lockyer Valley Growers (LVG) annual BIG charity dinner has raised more than $295,000 for ICF’s investigator-led research program.
LVGA Treasurer Tammy Litzow said it is incredibly rewarding to see those fundraising efforts now helping to expand access to clinical trials in the region.
“When you talk to people in the region, so many people have been touched by cancer. And many of those people have accessed treatment at Icon Cancer Centre,” said Tammy.
“At the end of the day, we all want better outcomes for cancer patients. And the only way that is going to happen is through research.”
Nolan’s Transport
Through its ICF-branded truck, Nolan’s Interstate Transport has helped raise awareness of cancer research while delivering goods across Queensland.
For Adrian ‘Flea’ Nolan, supporting cancer research is a meaningful way to honour the legacy of his father Terry and brother Darren, while helping other families facing cancer.
“As a family, we really wanted to give back to an organisation that has helped us and others,” said Flea.
“We believe if we can help with funds for Icon Cancer Foundation to continue with their research and clinical trials, it may just help give cancer patients and their families some hope or at least a little bit of extra time to spend together.”
Research in the regions: how philanthropy can help bridge a gap
For many Australians living outside major cities, access to clinical trials can be limited. Participating in research often means travelling long distances, spending time away from family and support networks, and taking on additional financial and logistical burdens.
ICF-funded investigator-initiated trials (IITs), like PUMA, play an important role in addressing this barrier.
Many investigator-initiated trials investigate practical questions that can be readily translated into routine clinical practice, with a focus on refining treatment, reducing side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.
Some pharmaceutical and medical device studies require specialised facilities, equipment or intensive monitoring meaning they are limited to selected sites. In contrast, many investigator-led clinical trials, like PUMA, are less complex and can be delivered more broadly across treatment centres, including regional locations.
This helps make research more accessible for patients closer to home while enabling researchers to collect data from more diverse patient populations.
Continued philanthropic support is critical to sustaining and growing this work. Through the generosity of donors, fundraisers and local communities, ICF can support the expansion of trials like PUMA, enabling more patients to participate in clinical trials closer to home.
From its activation in South Australia in 2025 to subsequent expansion into Tasmania, New South Wales and now regional Queensland, PUMA is a strong example of how ICF-funded IITs can be successfully implemented across multiple sites.
Thank you
Icon Cancer Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Lockyer Valley Growers Association, Nolan’s Interstate Transport, Truckin Republic and the Withcott Hotel, whose ongoing support is bringing new hope to women diagnosed with breast cancer.
