Lions are on a mission to cure childhood cancer

It’s International Childhood Cancer Day on Saturday (February 15), and Lions volunteers across Australia are rallying support for the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF) to help fund life-saving research.

Since 2009, the ALCCRF, with the support of Lions volunteers and their communities, has raised over $14 million to fund critical childhood cancer research. Tragically, cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in Australian children, claiming the lives of three children every week.

A key milestone in the foundation’s efforts has been the $4 million Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project in partnership with the Garvan Institute, which mapped the genome of over 400 children with cancer. This initiative has played a crucial role in advancing precision medicine, allowing for more targeted and effective treatments. The success of this project has contributed to the expansion of the Zero Childhood Cancer Program, ensuring all Australians aged 0 to 18 years with cancer have access to life-changing DNA sequencing.

In recent years, ALCCRF has also been a strong supporter of the Kids Research Institute Australia (formerly Telethon Kids Cancer Centre), providing over $1.2 million in funding over the past five years. This funding has helped drive cutting-edge research in cancer immunotherapy, an innovative treatment approach that boosts the body’s natural defences to fight cancer cells. Over the next three years, an additional $375,000 will be directed to furthering this critical work.

“At the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation, we are driven by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity for a healthy life. Over the past 15 years, Lions have raised more than $14 million to support groundbreaking research into childhood cancer,” says Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation Chair Ron Skeen OAM.

“Childhood cancer is an ongoing crisis. Almost 1,000 Australian children are diagnosed with cancer every year, many facing aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease. While survival rates have improved for some cancers, others continue to take an unbearable toll on young lives.”

“ALCCRF is so proud of the difference we have made and continue to make in taking steps towards eliminating childhood cancer. In partnership with the Garvan Institute, Lions helped map the genome of more than 400 children with cancer, leading to breakthroughs in personalized treatment. The success and expansion of the Zero Childhood Cancer Program has seen all Australians aged 0 to 18 years with cancer have access to this life-changing DNA sequencing.”

“Our support has also been instrumental in the work of the Kids Research Institute Australia, particularly in advancing immunotherapy research. These investments are changing and saving lives, and we urge Australians to stand with us in continuing this critical fight.”

Australians can support the fight against childhood cancer by donating to the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation at www.alccrf.lions.org.au.