ANNE Mills has one of the biggest reasons of anyone to donate to the community endoscopy fundraising appeal.
Mrs Mills lost her brother Charlie Woodward to bowel cancer almost two years ago after he devoted the latter years of his life to providing cancer services in his hometown Cairns.
This week Mrs Mills and her husband Leslie decided to kick off the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s ‘Show us ya guts’ campaign of $409,000, with a donation of $75,000.
“We like to give something to the Foundation every year, but when we heard about this campaign we decided to put in a bit extra,” Mrs Mills said.
“This is in memory of Charlie but really cancer is so widespread and this equipment will make a difference to so many people,” she said.
Mrs Mills has herself been treated for polyps in the bowel.
Their donation this week brings the total value of their donations to the Foundation over the years, to $418, 000.
Foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman said he was thrilled by the Mills’ donation.
“This couple really are very special to us – their blood’s worth bottling, in our book,” Dr Chapman said.
“The team are asking for several key pieces of endoscopic equipment to help facilitate this work,” Dr Chapman said. “For a relatively small investment of $409, 000, almost overnight this unit will be lifted to tertiary level, which we need to happen across the hospital,” he said.
Cairns Hospital director of medicine Dr Peter Boyd was delighted when he heard about the Mills’ donation, as it was a sign of community support.
“I just can’t thank them enough, because they’re an incredible example of this amazing community that I work in and that I am passionate about making a difference to,” Dr Boyd said.
When the new equipment arrives, Dr Boyd believes Cairns Hospital would be the second in Queensland to provide this service.
“I’ve been working in endoscopy for 25 years and I believe once we start this service, the demand will actually be four times what we think it is currently,” Dr Boyd said.
“We know that no matter what health condition, people from the Cape will come to Cairns for treatment, but they just won’t travel further – even if it means they die as a result,” he said.
“All our specialists are excellent in their field, but one in particular – Dr Mohd Kahn, previously was the director of a hospital in Saudi Arabia – he really is an expert in the field of oesophageal manometry and we are incredibly lucky to have him here.”
The breakdown is $98, 000 for oesophageal manometry (measuring waves) and pH studies, two balloon enteroscopes at a cost of $120, 000 and Olympus radial and linear probes at a total cost of $190, 000.
The campaign has been headed by media organisations across the city, with ABC Far North presenter Kier Shorey, Cairns Post general manager Andy Reeves, 4CA presenters John MacKenzie and Murray Jones, and Star 102.7’s Dave Warner.
Vital stats
• Demand for endoscopy services in FNQ is increasing by at least 10pc a year
• More than 25 endoscopy procedures are performed at Cairns Hospital each day
• About 8200 endoscopic cases were dealt with throughout the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in 2017-18 (CHHHS annual report)
• Demand is expected to increase to 8400 in the current financial year, with an extra 1000 cases each year after that (CHHHS annual report)
• About one in 23 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in their lifetime
• Bowel cancer is the second-most diagnosed cancer in FNQ for both men and women (after prostate and breast cancer)*
• 167 bowel cancer diagnoses in FNQ each year, 57 die each year*
To donate visit www.fnqhf.org.au/endoscopy
• *Source: Cancer Council Queensland 2007-2011
Photo: Dr Peter Boyd, Leslie and Anne Mills, Foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman.
