Fiona Martin (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My electorate is home to a world-leading haematology clinical research unit located at Concord Hospital. Recently I attended and contributed to a significant fundraising initiative within Reid—A Bloody Great Night Out! The funds raised at the event target the centre's clinical trials for life-threatening blood cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Through the fantastic work of the Bloody Great Committee, the event raised over $215,000, which was well over the anticipated target. I must acknowledge the committee's board of directors for their hard work: committee chair Marie Piccin, Christina Efthymiades, Susan MacGregor, Mary Nassibian, Steven Nassibian, Professor Judith Trotman, Associate Professor Ilona Cunningham, Rosanna Campisi and Treasurer Paul Dovico.

Tragically, many Australians are diagnosed with rare blood cancers each year and around half of those diagnosed are children. For many, the treatments available through the centre's trial provide a better quality of life for patients with blood cancers. For some patients, the clinical trial is their only hope for a cure. At A Bloody Great Night Out! we heard stories from patients and survivors of blood cancer who have benefited from the centre's research. I am very proud of the initiative and the research that goes on at the Concord Cancer Centre and look forward to continuing efforts for the Bloody Great Committee.