2010 Beneficiaries
CHW Tumour Bank – Cancer research on a national and international level.

Funds raised by Team K4KK 2006/07 will go directly to children’s cancer research and support, supporting the Pathology Support Laboratory Initiative – in turn supporting a national co-ordinated search for a cure for cancer.

In 1998, the Tumour Bank began.  The idea was seeded by scientists at The Oncology research Unit.  The initial funds were raised by a lone kayaker, Bob Glenister of Kayaking for Kemo Kids, whose daughter was undergoing treatment for cancer.  At that time, who was to know what the future held...but the seeds were sown.

Since then Bob and his team of dedicated supporters have raised almost $400,000 thousand dollars for the Tumour Bank.  The Tumour Bank was an Australian first and first on the World Wide Web.  It is now recognised as a blue print for ethically and professionally setting up such Cancer Research & Support Units on a national and internationally respected level.

In July 2004 the Federal Government announced the recipients for the 2004 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Enabling Grants.  Amongst the grantees was the Australasian Biospecimens Network-Oncology (ABN) - a collaboration of 7 large tumour banks around Australia for which, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Tumour Bank is one of the founding members.

The ABN was awarded a grant over five years to build a structured nation-wide network to collect process and disseminate Tumour tissue and will strategically target specific tumour types, such as paediatric tumours, that can only be collected in substantial numbers through the formation of such a network.

Additional funds awarded for 2005-6 has allowed the CHW Tumour Bank to establish a Pathology Support Laboratory (PSL) which will support cancer researchers and those working with the Australasian Biospecimens Network, by facilitating research through the provision of specialized expertise in research-based tissue handling techniques.

This in effect has allowed us to 'value add' to our Tumour Banking activities through the purchase of specialised equipment such as a Tissue Arrayer, an Immunohistochemistry Staining Instrument and a Virtual Microscopy Suite.  This laboratory will support not only the activities of the CHW Tumour Bank but work with researchers accessing tissue from other member banks within the ABN.  This will be done in a coordinated fashion throughout the network.

Having a histopathology-skilled person employed to work within the PSL long term is crucial.  Consequently, we are looking for further support for the Pathology Support Laboratory initiative as this will directly support and link the 7 major Tumour bank locations in the country.

So, whilst the focus of the K4KK fundraising will still be at the CHW Tumour Bank, it will allow us to further develop a nationwide activity via our interactions within the ABN.
     
 
 
 
 
Kayaking for Kemo Kids