Maitland Cancer Appeal

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Congratulations to the Maitland Cancer Appeal, a group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to fund medical research to benefit cancer patients for years into the future. The group was formed in 1982 with the aim to start an Oncology Unit in the Hunter Valley and this was achieved thanks to a whole of community effort. The Appeal however continued their good work, raising money through raffles, market days and eventually the appeal evolved into an op-shop and linen service. The Maitland Cancer Appeal has just donated $200,000 through their Rutherford Op Shop for Brain Cancer Research. The funds were evenly split between Children's brain cancer researcher Professor Matt Dun and Foundation Chair of the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for brain cancer research Dr. Mike Fay. There are currently few options for those suffering from this terrible disease and researchers are desperate to find better outcomes and more effective treatments. The Maitland Cancer Appeal committee members and volunteers, many of whom have been personally touched by cancer, chooses who they want to donate to. To date the committee have donated over $2million to cancer research in the Hunter. Congratulations to the Appeal on their amazing efforts.