Community Rallies Behind Young Man's Cancer Battle
The Newcastle arts community is demonstrating extraordinary generosity this weekend, uniting to support a young local man in his fight against an aggressive form of cancer. Leading Hunter artists have donated their work for Art Auction 4 Jac, a special event taking place at Timeless Textiles Gallery to raise urgently needed funds for 23-year-old Jac Mathot.
The High Cost of Survival
Jac Mathot was diagnosed with stage four Ewing sarcoma in May 2024, a rare and complex bone and soft tissue cancer that predominantly affects teenagers and young adults. Despite initially mistaking his symptoms for a sports injury, Jac discovered a lump that led to the devastating diagnosis. By then, the tumour in his shoulder blade had grown to 10 centimetres in diameter and the cancer had spread to his spine and hip.
Remarkably, after intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jac is now tumour-free. His continued survival depends on an experimental treatment called Enhertu, which targets a specific genetic mutation in his cancer. The treatment costs $12,500 every three weeks – approximately $4,150 weekly – and isn't covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for his type of cancer.
"Thanks to the Cooper Rice Brading Foundation, family, friends and other donors, I've now been on the new therapy for eight months and I'm feeling pretty good," Jac says. "But the longer I can afford to stay on Enhertu, the better my chances in the long term."
Artistic Support Makes Critical Difference
The art auction features an impressive lineup of local talent, including works donated by Michael Bell, John Cliff, Janet Clouston, Dino Consalvo, Stephen Cornwell, Trevor Dickinson, Ileigh Hellier, Gwynneth Jones, Jane Landers, Paul Maher, Susan Ryman, Kris Smith, Sue Stewart, Bridie Watt, Graham Wilson and Sally Wondergem.
The event will be conducted by Newcastle cabaret performer Denise Gold, who is making a one-day-only return from retirement specifically for this cause. Adding to the fundraising impact, the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation will match all funds raised dollar-for-dollar.
Jac's father, Mark Mathot, expressed profound gratitude for the community's response. "The thing I've learned since Jac was diagnosed in May 2024 is that people are incredibly kind, and incredibly generous," he tells Weekender. "Everyone Linda called said yes to helping out."
He describes his son as "the last person you'd expect to get sick" – a healthy, six-foot-three recent IT graduate who had just begun his career and moved in with his partner when the diagnosis turned his world upside down.
Art Auction 4 Jac takes place on Sunday, November 30 at Timeless Textiles Gallery, 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle. Viewing begins at 2:30pm with the auction commencing at 3pm. The event is free to attend with wine and nibbles served. Those unable to attend can contribute directly to Jac's treatment fund at donorbox.org/jac-mathot-fundraiser.
