2006 – 2007 Beneficiaries
Major Announcement


KC4KK is proud to announce a major initiative which has come about as a result of our successful relationship with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead - Paediatric Tumour Bank Research Unit and the Australian Biospecimens Network (ABN).

The Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane was approached in June this year to consider the establishment of Queensland’s first Paediatric Tumour Bank Research Unit which would be set up by funds raised by KC4KK and work with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the ABN to be involved in a national co-ordinated approach to children’s’ cancer research for our 700 Aussie Kids diagnosed with cancer each year.

We are please to announce that the dedicated team at RCHB Oncology Unit & Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation have agreed to take on such a worthwhile challenge to establish not only a Queensland first, but an Australian first which is potentially the largest children’s cancer research initiative in the southern hemisphere.

Stay tuned for further information - another great example of achieving our gaols and objectives with some of the most professional and dedicated hospitals and research teams in the world.

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 including QLD.

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.

Camp Quality

Camp Quality is very excited to be involved with Kayaking for Kemo Kids, thank you for considering us, it's a privilege.  Funds raised by this challenging event will support our recreational, educational and financial support programs in NSW & QLD.

Camp Quality is a non profit organisation that is committed to bringing hope and happiness to every child living with cancer, their families and communities through ongoing quality recreational, educational and financial support programs.

Camp Quality will hold approximately 185 recreational camps and recreational activities this year throughout Australia for children living with cancer and their families.

The majority of these camps are based on recreational experiences like horse riding and abseiling in the summer and skiing in the winter months.  The camps last from two to seven days.  Each camp is fully funded by the organisation, including the cost of the companions (adult volunteers).  At camp each child is assigned a companion ensuring that each child receives the highest quality of care.

In particular our camping program provides a wonderfully unique opportunity for a child with cancer to put their illness behind them for a few days and concentrate on being a child again.  Most importantly it provides them with fun and happiness, as "Laughter really is the Best Medicine".

     
 
 
 
 
Kayaking for Kemo Kids    -    State helping State