Far North Queensland has done it again, this time fundraising $1.5 million to take cancer care to the next level for the region’s patients.
Today the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has announced the campaign, which began in February, has already been finalised, thanks to numerous generous donations and other fundraising activities.
The total value of the upgrade will be $3.4 million, with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service contributing $1.9 million.
Together, with the community’s donations, this will enable improvements to be brought forward so cancer patients will benefit sooner.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said the campaign was concluded with thanks to final donations from the Mills Family Foundation and Denise and Ellis Richardson.
“The $100,000 donation from the Mills Family Foundation is their largest to date since they started giving in 2011, bringing their total donated to $544,271,” Mrs Hogan said.
The Richardson’s $150,000 donation is their first and motivated by their desire to help where they could.
“We’re aware of the Foundation’s great work. I ran the ‘Look good, feel better’ program in Cairns with the Cancer Council for more than 10 years. I was touched by the need for support of cancer patients, simultaneously being a patient myself,” Mrs Richardson said.
“I experienced firsthand the need for a warm, welcoming family friendly environment for treatments which will be achieved by the funds raised,” she said.
The couple consider themselves fortunate and humbled to be able to contribute the final amount to reach the targeted fundraising which will help reduce the stress and improve the outcomes for future cancer patents.”
Anne Mills, sister of Charlie Woodward, who campaigned for the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre, said the cause was close to her heart.
“It’s very important that the people in this region have the best possible care available, not just in Cairns but for the Tableland and the Gulf, the Cape and the islands,” Mrs Mills said.
“This was something Charles worked passionately towards and I’m glad that our donation will help lift the service to the next level that patients in the region need,” she said.
Taking patient care to the next level is the catch-cry of the Hub, which will increase access to treatment locally for cancer patients, more will live longer with cancer as new treatments are discovered, more 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 has made a difference.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Leena Singh thanked the public and the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation for helping hit the $1.5 million target.
“This campaign was only launched a few months ago, and to get this much donated in such a relatively short amount of time shows the dedication everyone has to uplifting cancer care services in the Far North,” Ms Singh said.
“Cancer is the greatest cause of premature death within the Cairns and Hinterland region, and this is higher in our region compared to the rest of Queensland.
“We have one of the highest rates of melanoma in Australia.
“When complete, the Hub will allow us to provide an improved environment and experience for patients and their families, while they are going through a difficult time.”
Ms Singh said there would be a staged approach to cancer care expansion at Cairns Hospital, with works on the first stage expected to start later this year.
Mrs Hogan also paid tribute to Joyce Swinton who kicked off the campaign, $100, 000 previously set aside from the Jetski Fundrun, Matthew Calanna, the BDO Arrow Experience walk, Coral Expeditions cruise, Rotary FNQ Field Day, Mitchell Family’s Wheelbarrow Race, Kenfrost Homes and the hundreds of smaller individual donations.
“Together with our community, we’ve proven yet again how passionate this community is about health care close to home, in such a short space of time. It’s the community that’s made this happen,” Mrs Hogan said.
Photo: Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Leena Singh, Anne Mills, Ellis and Denise Richardson, Foundation CEO Gina Hogan.
