Ricky Ponting & Premier - $0.5m For Wellbeing Of Kids With Cancer

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31st October 2010, 11:30am - Views: 1957





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Phone +613 8341 6200

Fax +613 9348 1391


ABN 21 006 566 972

Royal Children’s Hospital

Flemington Road Parkville

Victoria 3052 Australia

Patron

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

Chairman

Mr Leigh Clifford AO

Director

Professor Terry Dwyer AO MD MPH

Ambassador Sarah Murdoch


MEDIA ALERT                                            

Embargoed 1pm 31 October 2010 


PONTING’S WINNING HIT TO IMPROVE 

PYSCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER 


Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, his wife Rianna and Premier John Brumby have

announced $500,000 in joint funding for research led by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,

to help improve the wellbeing and mental health of children with cancer. 


The Pontings, through their Ponting Foundation, and the State Government, have each

committed $250,000 over three years to help researchers investigate ways to improve the

psychological outcomes of affected children and their families.


The research led by Murdoch Childrens, will involve children undergoing cancer treatment at

The Royal Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre.


Ponting said the funding would aim to help some of the 600 children diagnosed with cancer in

Australia each year.


“Having a child diagnosed with cancer has a devastating impact on families. Treatments for

cancer are improving all the time – but what we also need to ensure we’re doing the best we

can to look after the psychological wellbeing of these children and their families, both during the

cancer treatment and long term,” Ponting said.


During treatment, children with cancer endure multiple challenges including pain, disconnection

from peers and disruption to schooling. Whilst most survivors adapt well following treatment, a

significant number will experience anxiety and adjustment issues, and some suffer from

treatment-related cognitive and learning difficulties.


Researchers will follow children through their cancer journey to determine risk factors for

psychological and neurobehavioural problems and develop interventions to improve long-term

wellbeing.


Lead researcher Maria McCarthy said “with more than 80 per cent of children surviving their

cancer, our goal is to ensure the best possible psychological and quality of life outcomes for

these children and families.” 


“Our focus is to toward greater understanding of the family impact of childhood cancer, both in

the short and the long-term, and to develop interventions to reduce distress for all family

members. These children and families are part of our future and we want them to thrive despite

the challenge of cancer in their lives” McCarthy said.


This funding is part of the Government's Cancer Action plan and its commitment to innovative

research, prevention, support and treatment strategies to improve care and save lives.


Murdoch Childrens Director Professor Terry Dwyer welcomed the funding. “This is an important

opportunity for Australian scientists to lead a vital area of research that will help maximise the

health-related quality of life for affected children and their families.”  

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Phone +613 8341 6200

Fax +613 9348 1391


ABN 21 006 566 972

Royal Children’s Hospital

Flemington Road Parkville

Victoria 3052 Australia

Patron

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

Chairman

Mr Leigh Clifford AO

Director

Professor Terry Dwyer AO MD MPH

Ambassador Sarah Murdoch


Royal Children’s Hospital CEO Professor Christine Kilpatrick says “By working together with our

research partner Murdoch Childrens Research Institute we can provide sound evidence-based

psychological treatment to improve the long-term outcomes for children with cancer and, in turn,

their families.”

…ends…


Date



Sunday 31 October 2010, 1pm SHARP


Location


Level 6, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road Parkville


Vision / interviews

Ricky & Rianna Ponting meet children undergoing treatment for cancer 


who will benefit from the funding and the translational research program


Media contact

Alyssa Jones 

0413 331 816






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