NINE-year-olds Zara Skepev and Mila Costa have dreamed about becoming many things when they grow up, including being a zookeeper, a mother, a vet or a chef, but their focus has shifted in the past year.

“Now, I want to be a scientist, Mila wants to be a doctor,” says Zara.

“We are dreaming of a world without brain cancer.”

Zara’s mother, Milena, while on a tour of the Pace Centre at UC – a rehab centre for cancer patients – met ANU Prof Leonie Quinn, whose research focuses on discovering the underlying factors of brain cancer.

“Mum told Prof Quinn about mine and Mila’s dreams to be scientists,” says Zara.

“A few days before, I had told mum I was worried that I would not be able to be a good scientist if I also wanted to be a mother, so mum told Prof Quinn and she offered to give us a tour of her lab.

“Most of the doctors and scientists in her research lab are women, mothers and grandmothers.”

Zara says she got so excited about the lab tour that she couldn’t sleep, but when she did all that she could dream was her working alongside Prof Quinn in matching lab coats, and they won the Nobel Prize for eliminating brain cancer.

“The next day I had an idea on how I could raise money to support Prof Quinn, I could make clay earrings and set up a stall outside Urban Pantry in Manuka, and I could give all the money I raised to her,” says Zara.

“I begged mum to take me to Officeworks at 7pm to get supplies so I could get started, and I thought it would be so much more fun if my best friend, Mila, joined me as my business partner.

“Mila immediately said ‘yes’ and I told her we needed to take this seriously and work as a team. Mila came over the next day and we got started on logo design and picked out the business name, Z and M Co. Jewellery by Zara and Mila.”

They started making earrings in September and completed the last batch in December for their stall in January.

In May, Zara had created more than 300 pairs of earrings, and Mila had made another 90.

“I like blue, so making blue earrings is my favourite,” says Mila, whereas Zara prefers rose gold.

“It can be a bit frustrating if the clay’s not working like we need it to, or the clips are hard to put on sometimes,” says Mila.

“We wanted to raise money for brain cancer because it’s one of the most common cancers in kids, so it’s going to be like a yearly project for us, because everyone deserves a long and healthy life and to be happy.”

Zara says she and Mila have been best friends since their mums introduced them to each other five years ago, but it’s their differences that make their friendship extra special.

“My favourite subject is probably maths or chemistry. Mila likes PE and English,” she says.

“We have a lot in common, but it’s also sometimes good to have things different too, we have different personalities, which is something that made us friends, and we also both have two siblings.”

Now with a new shared friend and mentor, Prof Leonie has been the biggest influence and inspiration on the girls.

“We are giving a big cheque to ANU, we’ve raised $14,005 for Prof Leonie’s research. We’ve been in her lab and it’s cool in there, she and her team are using flies to study brain cancer,” they say.

“We like Prof Quinn’s red hair and that she is always happy, and she has a nice personality.”

Prof Quinn says Zara and Mila are exceptional role models, and she is proud of their perseverance as the youngest fundraisers ANU has ever had.

“It’s important to encourage women in research. Together we are really looking at the things that enable women to reach those roles, and right from the beginning as well through mentorship programs, including my two youngest mentees in Zara and Mila,” she says.

“I look forward to seeing their future grow and seeing them become great scientists, and it is important to highlight all the work they have done, for all of their spare time across six months, in making earrings to help us.”