The Mark Hughes Foundation invites Canberrans to a day at the races, as a local man’s legacy is celebrated once more at Thoroughbred Park on Friday 3 February. Hughes himself will be there, spotlighting the importance of finding a cure for brain cancer.

Tickets are almost sold out for the luncheon, but it’s completely free to watch local racing from 1pm. Donations will be accepted in buckets at the bar, every dollar going towards brain cancer research.

“We’re racing again!” says Kate Harrison, daughter of Mike Cramsie. In 2022, Mike’s family held the first Mike Cramsie Memorial Race Day, expecting to raise five or ten thousand dollars for brain cancer research.

“Then we raised over $37,000,” said Kate, still in disbelief.  

It was a bittersweet day, as hundreds of friends and family gathered to remember the lawyer and father of two who had helped so many of the local community before losing his life to brain cancer. 

“The whole day is the Mike Cramsie memorial, and we have a race named after Dad as well,” said Kate.

“Last year, Mum had a small share in a racehorse, Lethal Lady, that was having her first start. We made that one Dad’s race, and she ended up winning! Her first race! It was incredible.”

Horses have always held a special place in the family’s hearts. Kate’s own horse Mickey, “named after Dad,” is an ex-racehorse rescued by his namesake after he was banned from the track for bucking.

Now living comfortably on the family farm at Bywong, “he’s more of a golden child than ever,” smiles Kate.

“On 2 August 2019, Dad and I were coming home from the Goulburn races after watching our racehorse run. Whilst we didn’t win, it was still a lovely day.

“Not far from home, Dad suddenly felt quite faint and unwell … Knowing Dad had an issue with blood pressure, we got him home and checked it – all seemed well. I was very worried, but Dad assured me, ‘I’m okay Kate, truly I am’.

“He didn’t mention it at the time… but that was the first time he saw the flashing lights and knew that something really wasn’t right.”

The next day, despite seeming in better health, a splitting headache followed by a long, deep sleep worried Mike’s family enough to book a GP appointment.

“That was when our world changed,” said Kate. “He was sent straight up to Sydney the next week to see a neurological surgeon … We always hoped that it was something else, but I think the doctor knew straight away what it was.

“Dad had a brain tumour called glioblastoma multiforme.

“Until you’re on that journey with brain cancer, you don’t realise just how little research and treatment options there are,” said Kate.

Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40 in Australia.

It receives less than five per cent of federal government research funding despite an average of 1,970 brain cancers diagnosed each year.

Mike Cramsie survived 18 months after his diagnosis.

“You hear other stories of people’s personalities changing. But even when he was quite unwell and in hospital, Dad still had his personality,” said Kate. “It was still him.”

“The hardest part was seeing someone who was so capable brought to being bedridden.

“At age 75, Dad was still running his private practice from home and working on the farm. He was very active and just a great man. Would do anything for anyone, whether it was pro bono work or working the sausage sizzle at Bungendore Rodeo for over 30 years.”

Over 300 people attended Mike’s funeral, testament to all the lives he had touched.

“It was a very hard road, very emotional,” said Kate. “But there were these glimpses of beautiful people, the friends and family who really checked in, always visited.”

When Kate was struck with the idea of racing to cure brain cancer, one charity stood out among the rest.

“We looked at a few different ones, but I liked the alignment with sport Mark Hughes had with Beanie for Brain Cancer.”

In 2022, the NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer round raised in excess of $4 million towards brain cancer research.

“But along with that, their charity has minimal staff including him and his wife Kirralee, so you can see that all the money is going towards research.

“This year, Mark Hughes himself is coming down, which is pretty awesome. No pressure,” Kate laughed.

Medical research is key to finding a cure for brain cancer. Kate seeks to remind Canberrans that there are steps the everyday person can take.

“Last October, my sister and brother-in-law had a little do at their house and rather than people bringing wine or gifts, they donated to Dad’s page at the Mark Hughes Foundation. And even through that, we raised over just over three and a half thousand.

“It goes to show that just little family things can make an impact.”

Currently, Mike’s donation page on the Mark Hughes Foundation website sits at just over $43,000.

“He’d be pretty chuffed, I think,” smiled Kate.

Visit tribute.markhughesfoundation.com.au/page/MichaelCramsie to donate.

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