Weir family advocate for kids in Canberra

Weir family advocate for kids in Canberra Parliamentary function held with MPs to seek further collaboration.
The Kids’ Cancer Project hosted a parliamentary event with MPs to seek further collaboration.
Guests of honour; Sarah and Joshua Weir, from Sydney also met parliamentarians and are all too aware of the funding needed for childhood cancer research - their youngest daughter Evie was diagnosed with cancer in August 2013 just after her 2nd birthday.
 
“Fundraising and research is vital, we are grateful that because of research, Evie is disease free, choosing life in everything she does,” said Sarah.
“The Kids’ Cancer Project is committing over $4 million in research projects this year following a competitive grant process which saw over $12 million requested by scientists and institutions around Australia,” said Owen Finegan, CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project.

The Kids’ Cancer Project warned of shortfalls in research funding if initiatives like the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) are not developed to support people with rare diseases such as childhood cancer.
 
“Thanks to community support, philanthropy is playing a life-saving role in helping kids with cancer. Over fifty percent of children will be treated via a clinical trial and these are largely funded by the not for profit sector,” said Owen.
With cancer the leading cause of death of Australian children, by disease, there is an urgent need to fill the funding gap.
 
Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull met with the Weir’s and Col Reynolds, OAM Founder and Director of The Kids’ Cancer Project in his office.
 

Prime Minister Turnbull invited the Weir family into his office. L-R: Alicia, Sarah, Evie and Josh Weir, Owen Finegan - The Kids' Cancer Project CEO, Dr Geoff McCowage, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Col Reynolds OAM.

 

He thanked Sarah and Joshua for making the trip to Canberra to raise awareness and Col for his continued commitment to funding childhood cancer research.

The Government plays a significant role in funding childhood cancer research and recently announced a $20 million investment to support national research initiative, the Zero Childhood Cancer Program, which The Kids’ Cancer Project is also contributing to.
 
The function was sponsored by Bayer Australia Pty Ltd and made possible by the Parliamentary Friends of Cancer Causes Chair Senator Deborah O’Neill from New South Wales.
 
 
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