THE Atherton and Mareeba communities have stepped up to support cancer patients in the region.
The committee of the Rotary FNQ Field Days has donated $25,000 towards the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cancer Care Hub campaign.
Field Day chairman Kevin Davies said the donation was a “no brainer” particularly when the committee discussed the fact Tablelands families would access the service.
“Everyone is touched by cancer and we’re very well aware of the good work that the Foundation does so it was natural for us to support this project,” Mr Davies said.
“We’re passionate about funds from the field days supporting the local community and this gift will certainly do that. Anything that we can do to support local cancer patients staying close to home during their treatment, is important to us,” he said.
The gift brings the Foundation’s campaign to $836,228 or 55 per cent of the total $1.5 million needed.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan thanked the Field Day committee, and everyone who supported the event, for their support.
“A key focus of the campaign is helping more cancer patients receive their treatment locally rather than having to travel south, they will live longer with cancer as new treatments are discovered, they can be treated each day, chemotherapy manufacturing will be expanded on site and inpatients will have better outcomes in their treatment experience.
“There has been a 40% increase in cancer activity at the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre in the past five years. This is primarily because of the vast array of cancer treatments now available – people are living longer with cancer rather than dying prematurely,” Mrs Hogan said. “Every donation, large and small will make a difference.”
Photo: Rotary FNQ Field Days Marketing Manager Jeanette Sturiale, Chairman Kevin Davies, Foundation CEO GIna Hogan and Foundation supporter Joan Whyte.
