Heartfelt donations from ANZ Stadium Members will help parents of children in extreme circumstances, at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, by refurbishing their Parent’s Rooms and Kitchen.

Enthusiastic cheers and clapping accompanied a ceremony in the hospital on 8 August as Venues Chairman Christine McLoughlin presented $30,000 to Dr Luciano Dalla-Pozza from the Oncology Treatment Centre.

The money, raised during the 9th Annual Members Dinner in 2018, continues ANZ Stadium Members’ commitment to supporting the hospital with donations to help its world class clinicians and researchers in their mission to cure every child and adolescent with cancer. Dr Dalla-Pozza says:

A future free from cancer for all children is what we strive for – it is what drives us to succeed. 

13-year-old Molly Croft, a patient of the Oncology Treatment Centre, was a VIP guest at the dinner in May and sported a big smile as she rang the celebration bell at the hospital ceremony and helped receive the cheque.

Molly is one of over 5,000 children and adolescents who have been treated at the Oncology Treatment Centre since it was established in 1976. It is renowned for designing and implementing new and more effective treatments and programs of therapy for cancer.

Parents needing accommodation at the hospital due to extreme circumstances use the Parent’s Rooms and Kitchen in the Children’s Intensive Care Unit, which were were long overdue for an upgrade. A seriously ill child is a traumatic experience for parent’s and staying in close proximity becomes a priority with the renovations financed by ANZ Stadium Members making a positive and practical difference to the comfort of these families.

ANZ Stadium has contributed almost half a million dollars in proceeds, value-added tickets and hospitality to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead since becoming benefactors in 2003.

Research advances and improved clinical care mean that survival rates for children with cancer have improved dramatically and today 80% of diagnosed children will be cured. However, therapy costs and research investment increase continually so more funds are needed to save more lives and strive for a cancer free future.

Donations make a big difference to the lives of children with cancer, and their families, and the future looks brighter when people like ANZ Stadium Members lend a hand to help as we work towards a cancer-free future.