Jaxon worked hard to raise awareness and help other children who had brain cancer before he died with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, an aggressive brain cancer that attacks from the brain stem.

Bogut, who has met Jaxon, is ambassador for the Isabella and Marcus Paediatric Brainstem Tumour Fund and has agreed to help lobby the National Basketball League and Basketball Australia.

Mr Cooper said other sporting codes like AFL and cricket went big on fundraising for breast cancer and motor-neuron disease. He hoped basketball could be a champion for brain cancer awareness.

“We’re a basketball family and basketball has one of the highest participation rates for juniors and brain cancer is one of the biggest killers of youth,” Mr Cooper said.

 “Unfortunately, unless there is that awareness, there is not a lot of help…we don’t really have any (sports) behind brain cancer.”

Mr Cooper remains waiting to hear whether the NBL or an NBL franchise will help take up the cause for a feature round or game. But he was happy Bogut, someone who could make a difference, had listened and was trying to help.

The basketball community rallied for Jaxon in his illness, from his home club Saints up to NBL club Melbourne United with players visiting Jaxon when in Ballarat. United guard David Barlow also returned to visit Jaxon when he was in hospice.

Isabella and Marcus Fund raises money for Australian research into brain cancer, with a focus on DIPG.

The fund has provided eight grants for research projects and research infrastructure, but Mr Cooper said part of the challenge was encouraging scientists to want to work on this. There was no effective treatment. Half of children diagnosed with DIPG die in the first nine months and 90 per cent with 18 months.

Mr Cooper said he was also looking to approach the South East Australian Basketball League and Victorian Junior Basketball Leagues for awareness opportunities.