DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 091/10
Friday, 1 April 2010
Family cancer battle inspires Navy sailor to go-kart for glory
A cancer battle and the love of his family have inspired a Royal Australian Navy
sailor to embark on an unusual fundraising quest by signing up to a two day go-
karting marathon.
Last Christmas, Brendon Andersen was told his mother had breast cancer.
“It hit us pretty hard”, Brendon said. But the 29-year-old and his family decided to
fight back, by working towards a cure. “It certainly has opened doors, and made us
all stronger,” Brendon said.
Brendon has been racing karts since 2007, with the Tiger Kart Club in Perth. He
decided to use his hobby to raise money for the McGrath Foundation.
Brendon is a Leading Seaman, based at RAN Recruit School HMAS Cerberus, near
Melbourne. The school’s executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Mathew
Ferguson says the school is well and truly behind Brendon’s campaign.
“We like to think of ourselves as belonging to a Navy Family,” Lieutenant
Commander Ferguson said. “Brendon and his family have gone through a tough time
and they deserve our support.”
Brendon has spent weeks in intensive training for what is set to be a gruelling ordeal.
The 48th Australian Karting Nationals will run at Hume International Raceway,
Puckapunyal, Victoria from Friday April 2 to Sunday April 4. It’s the biggest event
on the karting scene this year.
“I’ve never taken part in something this big but I am looking forward to the
challenge,” Brendon admits.
So far the support from the karting and business communities has been enormous.
Throughout the event, there will be raffle tickets available for over $2000 worth of
donations.
Raffle tickets will be $5 each or $20 for five. They will be available from supporting
Brendon’s section of the pit area, easily recognisable by the McGrath Foundation
flags, which will be flying all weekend.
“Everything is going pink this week for us – the kart and the team – so now all we
need is for everyone to get behind us and support such an amazing foundation,”
Brendon said.
Media contact:
Leading Seaman Brendon Andersen: 0403 414 737
Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
