Childrens Cancer - Spring Appeal

Children's Cancer Institute Australia Spring Appeal

CCIA is Australia's only independent medical research institute that is devoted solely to childhood cancer research and they need our help in raising $100,000  for vital new research programs.


"Senior research officer, Dr Jenny Wang, has recently become part of the team here at Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA). She joins us from the prestigious Harvard Medical School, in Boston, USA.
Jenny is working on ground-breaking research which holds immense possibilities for children being treated for a type of leukaemia with a particularly poor prognosis – AML, or acute myeloid leukaemia."


Did you know that survival rates for AML are less than 50% and it remains the leading cause of all leukaemia related deaths in children.
What makes AML so different to other leukaemia's is that the AML cancer stem cells appear to be more resistant to current standard treatments, they're able to renew themselves. So finding a breakthrough in the treatment and prevention of AML  stem cells originate and proliferate, and how we kill them will be a major step in being able to help more children survive leukaemia in the future.

To see what fundraiser will be happening in October Click here


You can help by Donating or Fundraising.


Please donate today.



Fundraising for CCIA - "If you are interested in becoming a community fundraiser, contact our Community Initiatives & Events Team on on (02) 9385 2100 or email events@ccia.org.au"


"Lucy Monteleone is one of hundreds of children affected by childhood cancer each year who desperately need your help. At 10 years of age, Lucy was diagnosed with AML – a day etched into her mother’s memory forever.

By Lucy's side, at Westmead Children’s Hospital, her mum Wendy watched her little girl suffer endless cycles of aggressive chemotherapy, high doses of medication, lumbar punctures, bone marrow aspirates, injections and blood transfusions. Along with these came the debilitating agonising side effects – more than any little child should have to go through. Wendy told us:

“Lucy asked me one night ‘Can I die mummy, is that why you cry sometimes? ‘Cause people die from cancer?’ My heart ached…I had to answer with honesty yet with a voice that would ease her mind. I kept telling myself to stay strong, but I didn’t feel strong. I felt helpless.”

“Christmas that year was hard. Lucy’s temperature was spiking so high that she was shaking violently, saying “Mummy, make it stop.” At one stage there were a team of doctors and nurses surrounding the bed, and I could see fear in their eyes. We could have lost Lucy that day. It broke my heart. Why did my little girl have to suffer like this? No reason could suffice.”

Lucy is now in remission and whilst this is wonderful news, Lucy's family know that there's a high chance she could relapse, and sadly, the majority of children with AML who do are unlikely to make it through another round of treatment.

Lucy is now 15 years old and living a happy life. Whilst her family try to remain optimistic, their darkest fear is that at any moment this happiness could be taken away.

It's vital that research happens faster so we can protect all children from the suffering caused by cancer. I urge you to please help today.

Any kind gift you can give would be wonderful.

You can also show your support by connecting with CCIA on Facebook and Twitter.

 Joining in with Jess Over at Diary of a SAHM.