Maxine Rava Foundation
The Maxine Rava Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the understanding and utilisation of medical cannabis as a therapeutic option for cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Did you know - cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia? At the Maxine Rava Foundation, we're on a mission to cure and control cancer with plant-based medicine. We believe that by exploring the potential of cannabis, we can revolutionise cancer care and bring hope to millions of lives.
Named in honour of Maxine Rava a courageous individual who battled cancer for over 25 years and experienced the positive effects of medical cannabis firsthand.
The foundation aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families.
Our Mission
Research Acceleration
We're dedicated to expediting scientific inquiry into medical cannabis's potential as a cancer and chronic illness treatment. Through funding and partnerships with renowned institutions, we champion evidence-based exploration, enriching medical cannabis knowledge.
Advocacy for Legalisation
Policy change is essential for responsible medical cannabis usage. By engaging policymakers, healthcare bodies, and regulators, we drive for greater patient access, integrating medical cannabis into mainstream healthcare.
Awareness and Education
Educating patients, practitioners, policymakers, and the public is pivotal. Our informative campaigns, resources, and community outreach ensure accurate, evidence-based information on medical cannabis, empowering those seeking alternative remedies.
Collaborating with Our Community
Collaboration is key. We unite medical experts, researchers, patients, and advocates to foster a multidisciplinary approach to research and application. Pooling resources propels progress, maximizing medical cannabis's potential for patients.
Patient Support
The journey through medical cannabis treatment can be complex. We're here to support patients and families, offering guidance, connecting them with trusted healthcare providers, and providing a platform to share experiences.
Get Involved
We invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Your support of the Maxine Rava Foundation directly contributes to funding vital research projects that explore the potential of cannabis as a control and cure for cancer.
Vision
At the Maxine Rava Foundation, our vision is a future where cancer is effectively controlled and cured through the utilisation of cannabis-based treatments. Through our efforts, we aim to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide hope for a brighter, healthier, and cancer-free future.
The Story of Maxine Rava
Maxine Rava, a courageous woman who bravely battled cancer for more than 25 years, stands as a testament to the transformative power of medical cannabis.
Her journey highlights the positive impact that medical cannabis can bring to individuals grappling with the challenges of cancer and its treatments. Maxine, along with her husband, embarked on a journey to access the benefits of medical cannabis when faced with obstacles in obtaining it within South Australia. Through a prescription secured from a licensed prescriber in Sydney, Maxine's life took a remarkable turn.
Witnessing firsthand the considerable improvement in her quality of life, Maxine experienced relief from pain, a boost in overall well-being, and the elimination of distressing side effects commonly associated with traditional chemotherapy and radiation. Maxine's personal encounter with the benefits of medical cannabis fueled her advocacy efforts, where she passionately shared her story with fellow cancer patients and oncologists. Her vision encompassed the integration of medical cannabis as a crucial tool in easing the suffering endured by cancer patients and eventually contributing to the cure of various forms of cancer.
Maxine aspired to inspire her loved ones and the wider community to rally behind scientific research into the potential curative attributes of cannabis. Her legacy resonates through the Maxine Rava Foundation, as we push research forward, heightening awareness, and offering support to those seeking relief and improved outcomes through the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis.
The Maxine Rava Foundation Board Members
John D Rava BA MCom., Retired
Chairman & Director
Retired, previously Senior and Regional Economist, Sate Bank of NSW and University of Wollongong, Manager, Youth Employment Unit NSW government, Director John Rava & Associates, Director Security & Key Pty Ltd, Managing Director, Riverland Development Corporation and, finally, Global Marketing and Sales Manager, Australian Lock Company.
Highlights of my 45-year career, opening international markets and meeting so many wonderful people in the process, managing an Australia-wide sales team, speaking at several conferences and preparing successful submissions for funding community groups and winning the Telstra and Australian Governments Business Award for NSW and then Australia. I also take pride in having completed numerous strategic business and marketing plans for private sector businesses and having published over 200 papers and articles.
Since retiring, whilst caring for Maxine and our daughter Michelle, I have become a full-time advocate for the legalization and use of medical cannabis.
I am very happy to speak at local groups and national conferences on the matter of cannabis and cancer and my own experiences with Maxine’s 25 year [on and off again] journey.
Although I try hard to get politicians to listen when it comes to policy impacting cannabis users, I have made very little progress. I am not sure why it is so hard to lobby state and federal government. I must assume there is some fear surrounding their making a decision to support medical cannabis users, despite cannabis being legal.
Should you get the chance, please write to or discuss cannabis as a successful control for the nasty side effect of cancer and other chronic illnesses, with your local member. Perhaps request they learn more about the emerging medical benefits of Cannabis and talk to those who are using this plant to have a pain-free life with cancer. They can refer to our website where we will endeavor keep you updated on developments in our [funded] research and that of others.
Janette [Jan] Stirling
Vice-Chairman & Director
Executive GM, High Performance & National Teams, Basketball Australia
Jan Stirling is Maxine Rava’s sister. Considered one of the most successful coaches in Australian sport, Jan brings to the Foundation a long and illustrious association with Australian basketball.
She began playing in the old ABA (pre- WNBL) at age 13, notably soon after Maxine started baskeball! Jan was a member of Australia’s 1975 world championship team before eventually joining the elite coaching ranks as head coach of the Opals. The Opals won medals at every event under her leadership. The Opals won gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Brazil, Jan Stirling’s place in Australian basketball history was assured.
The first-ever gold medal by a senior Australian basketball team would be surrounded by silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, bronze at the 2002 FIBA World Championships and gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In 2008 Stirling was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to sport, and most recently she served on the selection committee for the Australian Boomers and Jayco Australian Opals head coaching positions.
Jan continues to inspire and achieve success as an effective workshop facilitator and keynote speaker on high-level performance, team building, leadership, and motivation.
Her clients include Western Mining, Virgin Airlines, Kodak Australia, University of Sydney, University of South Australia and various community youth and secondary school programs.
As one of Jan’s former Opals players said, “All she wants to see is people succeed and be the best they can be, and she goes out of her way to make that happen. She strives to be the best she can be in her job, and I guess with those qualities and that attitude, that’s why we’ve been so successful.”
This approach applies as much to coaching sportspeople to medal-winning performances as it does to helping individuals and businesses to reaching their potential and Jan Stirling excels at both.
Dr Madelé van Dyke, PhD, Early Career Research Fellow.
Director
Cancer affects millions of people worldwide leaving many with limited time with their loved ones, and often a poor quality of life.
Several targeting therapies have been approved and have been associated with an improved survival outcome. However, despite all individuals being different in our own ways, particularly physiologically and genetically, a ‘one-size fits-all’ dose is currently prescribed to all patients. For some, this dose might be too much which can cause severe toxicity, and for others it might not be enough, which can result in early cancer progression due to therapeutic failure. It is no surprise that patients respond vastly different to their treatments as the public is not adequately represented in the strictly controlled clinical trials when the 'one-size fits-all' dose is determined.
My research focusses on tailoring each patient's dose based on their own individual characteristics to give the patient the best chance at benefitting from their treatment.
I completed my PhD (2018) in investigating strategies to address the challenges of precision dosing with cancer drugs, which led to a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Precision Medicine under a NHMRC grant at Flinders University. This enabled me to advance my expertise in individualised-dosing strategies, contributing key data that resulted in significant funding from Pfizer and the NHMRC.
In 2019, I visited Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, USA to share my skills in cancer drug metabolism and analytical method development. I am trained in clinical trial project management, venepuncture and IV Cannulation and have refined expertise in targeted quantitative proteomics and small molecule liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry after training with Agilent Australia and at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
I also enjoy using mathematical models to predict clinical outcomes and have had extensive training in both Australia and the USA. Together, I apply these skills to achieve tailored therapy to improve outcomes for people living with cancer by increasing efficacy, survival, and quality of life.
Less than 12 months post PhD I was awarded one of two SA Beat Cancer Early Career Research Fellowships, which enabled me to initiate and lead the first state-wide therapeutic drug monitoring program in Australia. I have been very privileged to collaborate with world-leading groups in Germany, Israel and The Netherlands. Together, I believe, the Maxine Rava Foundation can use all our skills and expertise to generate the data, conduct Australian trials for cannabis in the control and cure of cancer that will change clinical practice to significantly improve patient care and wellbeing during treatment and, ultimately mean cancer is no longer a death sentence for many sufferers.
Featured in 7News Adelaide- Watch here
Dr Joel Wren, GP,
Director
President of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians Australian Chapter.
“I have seen hundreds of patients to discuss both cannabis and natural alternatives in medicine, and I feel it's an important duty to bridge the gap between modern hospital conservatism and holistic, evidence-based, natural healthcare.”
Medical Cannabis Qualifications:
+ Medihuanna Educator
+ Medical Cannabis Institute (Basics & Clinical Practice)
+ Greenly HealthMy research focusses on tailoring each patient's dose based on their own individual characteristics to give the patient the best chance at benefitting from their treatment.
Other:
+ Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)
+ Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
+ Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM)
+ Sydney Child Health Program graduate
Dr Wren has long been fascinated with plant-based pharmaceuticals, growing to appreciate the potential of our natural world. Seeing his patients' hunger for natural medicines prompted him to learn more about holistic health, taking into consideration every aspect of a patient's health journey including social, mental, physical, and nutritional health.
“I have seen hundreds of patients to discuss both cannabis and natural alternatives in medicine, and I feel it's an important duty to bridge the gap between modern hospital conservatism and holistic, evidence-based, natural healthcare.”
Dr Joel was chosen to present to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on behalf of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians to discuss the rescheduling of MC from archaic classifications. He has since become the President of the Australian Chapter. Watch Dr Joel Wren’s statement on cannabis to the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Watch Dr Joel Wren’s statement on cannabis to the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Watch Dr Joel Wren on the AltMed Podcast EP.19 - Medicinal Use of Cannabis.
Make a donation.
Together, Let's Make a Difference
We invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Your support of Maxine Rava directly contributes to funding vital research projects that explore the potential of cannabis as a control and cure for cancer. Together, we can ignite hope, unlock the mysteries of this remarkable plant, and strive towards a future where cancer is no longer a life-altering diagnosis.