The CIKA team is made up of volunteers who are committed to improving treatments for children diagnosed with cancer. The research we fund has the potential to help children all around the world through the sharing of findings by the scientists working both here and overseas. CIKA takes pride in both the amount of money we raise each year and the fact that every dollar goes to research. We are a small committee supported by a great many more CIKA friends. You can read about many of them on the supporters pages of our website. Holding events, running stalls, seeking donations, crafting items for sale - it's the combined effort of so many that enables us to reach our fundraising goals.
Every CIKA supporter makes a difference.
They are truly inspiring.
Some of the goods on sale at our Easter Stall on April 18 - many of which were made by our supporters.
In 2014 funds provided by CIKA assisted in the establishment of a Tissue Bank at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital. We continue to support the Tissue Bank which is becoming increasingly useful to researchers around the world who share our aim to eradicate these dreadful diseases. In her 2019 report about the Tissue Bank, Coordinator, Louise Ludlow, provides us with information on colleagues locally and overseas who have made successful applications for access to samples held at the Children’s Cancer Centre.
Dr Sharon Olsen from the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute in Ballarat visited the Children’s Cancer Centre Tissue Bank to obtain samples to assist her and fellow researcher, Professor George Kannourakis, with their work on the study of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.
FOOTY BEARS AND MORE
Lyn Weber has supported CIKA for many years, working on our stalls, collecting goods and making items to sell. Lyn is an accomplished knitter and her Footy Bears and Easter Chicks featured on this year's RCH Easter Stall.
A special $2 stall in the foyer of the RCH on Tuesday May 28will see Pam Philips selling a range of beautiful onesies in sizes from 00 to 0000, all for $2 each. Yes, two dollars, so if there is a small person in your life, don’t miss out on these bargain priced garments. They are all brand new. Here is a sample of what will be available.
Sala Rubinstein and her team will be holding a warehouse clearance sale on her regular RCH stall on Thursday June 6. Sala's customers know that her Thursday stalls present great opportunities to snap up a bargain and this one promises to be be better than ever, with rock bottom prices from $2, so don't miss out on the great savings that will be available in Main Street at the RCH.
DR CHRISTINE HAWKINS
Dr Christine Hawkins and her group investigate the molecular mechanisms that control cell death, with the goal of exploiting this knowledge to improve the efficacy and safety of anti‐cancer therapies. Research in the Hawkins laboratory at La Trobe University focusses on cancers that afflict children and young adults, particularly osteosarcoma, a cancer that arises in patients’ bones and can spread to their lungs. Chris and her group of researchers have identified candidate new therapies that will hopefully improve cure rates for osteosarcoma patients. Her team is also exploring strategies to spare cured patients the risk of developing “therapy‐related” cancers, which can be triggered by intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Christine came to the CIKA committee meeting on May 7 to update us about her team's exciting research.
BLANKET DRIVE
In a recent issue we asked for donations of handbags and were overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters. The Handbag Stall at the RCH was a stunning success raising much needed funds for research and delighting our customers with the amazing bargains on offer.
We are now seeking donations of blankets in the styles that were popular in the sixties and seventies. Donated blankets will be professionally cleaned before being converted into upmarket clothing. Check your cupboards or those of family members to see if you have what we are looking for. Please contact our president by emailing president@cika.org.au if you are able to help.
Look familiar? Donate one like this to CIKA and give it a new life!
A GREAT PARTNERSHIP
Continuing a collaboration that commenced in 2014 a cheque for $20,000 was presented to CIKA at the RCH late last year from the Robert Connor Dawes Fund. Over $100,000 has come to CIKA; this money sits in “Pippas Trust” and has been applied to the Tissue Bank. This year the CIKA committee committed to increase funding for paediatric brain cancer and we are at present working with the RCH to establish new projects for 2019.
Left to Right: Ellen Webb (CIKA), Virginia Rea (RCD ambassador – Pippa’s Trust), Liz Dawes (CEO, RCD), Sandra Lehrer (CIKA), Louise Ludlow (MCRI).
The annual Trentham Spudfest was held on May 4 and. of course, the indefatigable Trentham CIKA stall team was there with a monster stall to raise funds for research and to educate visitors to Trentham about childhood cancer. We are most grateful to for their hard work. This is a very busy weekend for the local community and Ruth, Wendy, Kaye and Trish were run off their feet with sales of beanies, jumpers and warm blankets. Thank you to all those that supported the stall and to the many that donated to CIKA.
Customers of all ages were at the Trentham Spudfest on May 4
SUPER CIKA SUPPORTERS Gwen and Andy Kakafikas
There are many stories within the CIKA community and this is one we would like to share. Members of the Macedon Ranges Focus group have been supporters of CIKA for many years and in 2009 Focus member Gwen Kakafikas approached CIKA member Sandra Lehrer and presented her with a very generous cheque.
We are now many years down the road and their generosity has continued. They have a keen interest in the research that CIKA funds and have attended several CIKA lab days.
