Landmark funding for Tassie kids with cancer

Posted On: August 22, 2017

On Tuesday 22 August, The Kids’ Cancer Project announced a landmark funding commitment to help Tassie youngsters with cancer have access to care that is equal to that offered to children on the mainland.

Over the next two years, the independent national charity has pledged to provide $140,000 to assist with the establishment of a statewide Children’s and Adolescent/Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Clinical Trials Unit at Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Kids’ Cancer Project is committed to improving the outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer by facilitating access to cutting edge clinical trials and promoting other quality research as CEO Owen Finegan explained.

"The grant application from Royal Hobart Hospital caught our attention as it is the first time a request for funding had come from Tasmania,” Mr Finegan said. “We recognised that this was an important step forward to ensuring children with cancer in the state have equal access to care."

The Kids’ Cancer Project was in Hobart as part of the charity’s national campaign to raise awareness that kids with cancer need science.

"Childhood cancer kills more kids in Australia than any other disease,” said Mr Reynolds. “It’s vital that all children have equal access to the best treatments available."

"I’m driving my bus 10,000 km down the length of Australia with one clear message and that is, ‘science is the solution,” said Mr Reynolds.

Associate Professor Heath is delighted with the announcement.

“On behalf of all the current and future Tasmanian children and adolescents battling cancer, I would like to thank The Kids’ Cancer project for their generous support,” said Associate Professor Heath.

“This initiative will have a major positive impact on the care and cures offered by RHH and its associated satellite centres throughout Tasmania. “We are very grateful and all the team here are excited to put an improved service in place,” said Associate Professor Heath.