Our History - Their Future

Jennifer Harper

The creation of the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (Inc) was inspired by 9 year old Jennifer Harper, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1977. When her father, Peter Harper, discovered that there was no research into children's leukaemia being done in WA, he set out to raise funds for this purpose.

Professor Ursula Kees

Together with other parents of children with cancer and with the support of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (Inc) was formed. In 1983 the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Laboratory was established on the children's hospital (PMH) campus and in 1984 Dr Ursula Kees, a Swiss born scientist was recruited from the German Cancer Institute, to head up the Research Laboratory.

Whilst Jennifer inspired the creation of the Foundation, she did not win her fight against leukaemia, she died in 1978.

Our Research Laboratory has a very co-operative relationship with the hospital's Oncology Total Care Unit and plays an integral part in the treatment of children with cancer in WA. In 1990 the Oncology Total Care Unit became a full member of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG), one of the largest co-operative research groups in this field.

The PMH Unit is not only participating in trials of new chemotherapy treatment protocols for cancer patients, but has been accredited as a CCG bone marrow transplantation unit which has greatly improved childhood leukaemia survival rates in WA. The scientific expertise provided by Dr Kees was one of the critical requirements in obtaining this approval. This CCG membership has provided the opportunity to study patients enrolled on CCG protocols.

KOKODA TREKKERS FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH

An adventurous group of people are undertaking the gruelling Kokoda Track to raise funds and awareness for the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (Inc) of Western Australia.

Seventeen trekkers will fly out on 19 April and will be on the track for Anzac Day - 25 April.

The group are being taken by a company called Executive Excellence who have great deal of experience in Kokoda campaigns.

  

The group come from a range of professions. Brad Jones, first time trekker said "My little boy Sam was admitted to the Perth children's hospital last year with a respiratory virus and it was while he was there that I met some families whose children had far greater illnesses."

"Shortly after Sam's stay in hospital, I met a man on a plane whose son was diagnosed with cancer and after hearing his story, which touched me deeply, I wanted to help. Childhood cancers are so random and it's so unfair to have children robbed of their childhood."

For further information contact:
Brad Jones
0427 632 244