Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation

20/04/2026

Congratulations to Collingwood Football Club on taking out the 31st Peter Mac Cup, securing the win over Carlton Football Club in a hard-fought match at the MCG, and to Nick Daicos for taking out this year's Richard Pratt medal for the best player on the ground.

On the field, patients, staff and supporters formed a guard of honour. The night began with a powerful pre-game tribute to Peter Mac, shared on the big screen and broadcast across the stadium. As Gang of Youths’ powerful rendition of Heroes rang out, thousands of phone lights shimmered across the stands, turning the ground into a sky full of stars.

It was a moving tribute - a moment to remember those we have lost to cancer, and to stand alongside those still fighting, including the patients and the dedicated staff who care for them every day.

Thank you to everyone who made the night possible and to those who continue to stand with Peter Mac. A very special thank you to Carlton and Collingwood, whose support we are so incredibly grateful for.

For over 30 years, this match has brought rivals together to support life-saving cancer research.

Thank you to Sony Foundation Australia and their youth cancer program “You Can” along with Sony Music Australia artist Gang of Youths for helping bring this special moment to life.

Special thanks to the Pratt Foundation for matching every donation on the night.
Stay tuned for our final fundraising result 💜🔥

20/04/2026

85,000+ voices. One powerful moment. 💜

On Thursday night at the MCG, as Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club take to the field for the Peter Mac Cup, we paused for something bigger than football.

More than 160,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Almost 1 in 2 of us will face a diagnosis in our lifetime. They’re confronting numbers — but tonight, we stand together against them. This moment is for those currently going through their cancer journey, for the families and friends beside them, and for those we’ve lost. You are not alone.

A huge thank you to Sony Foundation Australia and their youth cancer program You Can, along with Sony Music Australia Gang of Youths for helping bring this special moment to life.

If you can, please support life-saving cancer research here: https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

15/04/2026

“Be the change you want to see.” These are Peter’s words, a long-time advocate for social justice.

When Peter’s father was treated at Peter Mac, the experience inspired him to act. Peter wants to ensure that cancer research continues to advance for future generations. Including a gift in his Will became his way of making that possible.

Peter has always believed in practical action.

💬 “Awareness is important, but what really makes a difference is volunteering, donating or fundraising. A bequest achieves this,” he says.

As a Friend for Life – a person who has chosen to include a gift to Peter Mac in their Will – Peter's legacy of compassion will benefit countless people in the years to come.

Discover the power of a gift in your Will: foundation.petermac.org/friendforlife

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/peter/

14/04/2026

We kicked off the 31st Peter Mac Cup with a memorable breakfast at the MCG on Monday morning, bringing together over 400 guests alongside Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club to begin a meaningful week in support of Peter Mac Cup.

Hosted by Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, the morning featured a powerful conversation with AFL legend David Parkin and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre researcher Professor Grant McArthur who each shared their personal cancer journeys with Prostate cancer. The program also included insights from Darcy Moore and Jacob Weitering, as they looked ahead to their Round 6 showdown.

A sincere thank you to the many current and former Carlton and Collingwood players who generously gave their time to be part of the event and show their support.

We’re also incredibly grateful to our corporate partners, the Pratt Foundation, Visy and Community Bank Strathmore for helping make this event possible.

Now, attention turns to Thursday night’s big game. Whether you’re at the ground or watching from home, stand with us and support the fight against cancer.

You can contribute to life-saving research through the Peter Mac Cup here: https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

13/04/2026

Carlton and Collingwood unite for something bigger than football this Thursday.

Through the Peter Mac Cup, rivals take a stand against cancer, raising vital funds for patient care and life-saving research.

Now it’s your turn to stand with them. Donate now.

https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

This Thursday night at the .

The 2026 edition of the Peter Mac Cup 🏆

12/04/2026

It didn’t start as a tradition.
It started as a question.
What if football could do more?

👉 Swipe to see how one idea in 1993 became the Peter Mac Cup, the longest-running charity match in AFL/VFL history.

Decades later, the rivalry still stands.
But so does the impact.
Together, we’re changing lives.
Donate now to support cancer research through the Peter Mac Cup - https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

08/04/2026

When players visit Peter Mac, it’s a reminder that this game goes beyond the field.

This past week, we welcomed Carlton Football Club players Nic Newman, Adam Saad, Elijah Holland and Collingwood Football Club players Lachie Schultz, Wil Parker and Jack Buller to our Parkville centre ahead of the Peter Mac Cup on the 16th.

The players spent time with patients, families and staff, and bringing plenty of energy (and a few laughs) along the way.

Rivals on the field. United against cancer.

Join the club that stands against cancer. Donate now. Attend the match. Support cancer research.

https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

07/04/2026

When Dr Lavinia Tan processes the blood samples of cancer patients, she sees more than just the data. She sees the stories of people with lung cancer fighting to live longer.

Her work at Peter Mac is revealing how lung cancer changes and resists treatment, and how we can outsmart it.

💬 “Every patient’s cancer is different. By studying tumour and blood samples, we can see how cancers evolve. This helps us design more personalised treatments so patients can stay well for longer,” says Dr Tan.

In 2025, Dr Tan received a prestigious Discovery Partner Fellowship, which provides dedicated time and resources for her to spend on research. Funded by Discovery Partners – the generous monthly donors across Australia powering this research – she’s able to pursue ways to outsmart lung cancer.

💜 Thanks to our community of donors, researchers like Dr Tan can turn bold ideas into real-world progress for people with cancer.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/drlaviniatan

04/04/2026

Last year, we asked Peter Mac Cup donors why they chose to give.

Here’s are some of the messages they left 💜

02/04/2026

Someone special is coming to Peter Mac.

Beyond the rivalry.
Beyond the game.

👀 Stay tuned.

01/04/2026

For more than 30 years, two legendary rivals have come together for something bigger than footy.

The Peter Mac Cup is the longest-running charity match in VFL and AFL history, played between Collingwood and Carlton to raise vital funds for cancer research and care at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. What started as a single match has become one of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation’s largest annual fundraising events, uniting footy fans behind a powerful cause.

In 2026, the tradition continues.

Circle it, lock it in and don’t miss it. The Peter Mac Cup returns on April 16.

Carlton Blues vs Collingwood Magpies.

April 16, 7.30pm at the MCG.

Legendary rivals on the field. United against cancer off the field.

Will you be there? 💜🖤💙

24/03/2026

Bringing together the ‘best of both worlds’ in prostate cancer treatment could significantly improve the treatment experience for many patients.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting males, and the number of new cases globally is expected to rise by over 100% from 2020 to 2040. Developing effective and efficient new ways to treat prostate cancer is crucial.

This is exactly what A/Prof Sarat Chander and Dr David Chang hope to achieve with the support of a 2025 Peter Mac Foundation Grant.

Currently, high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) are some of the most convenient options available for localised prostate cancer, the stage when most prostate cancer cases are caught. Both options have benefits and drawbacks: HDR brachytherapy involves fewer sessions but is more invasive, while SABR is less invasive but requires more visits.

Their trial is investigating a hybrid approach that streamlines the treatment process, making it both less invasive and time-consuming. This approach would make treatment more convenient and more accessible for regional and rural patients. It would advance outcomes, reduce costs for patients, and improve the quality of life for patients with early-stage prostate cancer.

Because of your generosity, researchers like A/Prof Chander and Dr Chang can explore new and improved ways of treating cancer. Thank you for helping to create a better future for all people affected by cancer.