Perth-based organisation The Telethon Adventurers – set up to aid in the fight against childhood cancer – has gained the support of Woolworths, with the retailer signing up as a major fund-raising partner.
Woolworths will host two major fund-raising events for the organisation, which was originally named The Adventurers but was renamed to include major partner, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, this year.
The events will involve an in-store campaign across all 83 stores in Western Australia and the Woolworths fresh food kids hospital appeal’s Ride for Elliot, which will raise money with a bike tour from Esperance to the Telethon Institute.
“We are absolutely delighted and overwhelmed by the support and drive shown by the entire Woolies team,” Telethon Adventurers founder Rick Parish said.
He said he was compelled to raise money for cancer research equipment when his son Elliot was diagnosed with medulloblastoma (terminal brain and spinal cancer) in 2009.
In 2010 The Adventurers raised and donated $920,000, which enabled the purchase of a 3D molecular imaging machine.
‘Elliot’s Machine’ will fast track the institute’s research by enabling real-time, non-invasive monitoring of brain tumour cells in laboratory models of childhood brain tumours, to determine the usefulness of new drugs.