Order your Arrow Christmas cards today

Cards are available in packs of ten for just $15. Cost includes: envelopes; GST; postage and your contribution to a very good cause!

Click here to download the order form (in PDF format).

 

Arrow funds groundbreaking stem cell research for severe degenerative invertebral disc disease

Severe degenerative invertebral disc (IVD) disease is an incurable condition and a major cause of harsh back pain. It has been demonstrated that human bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) can survive when transplanted into the IVDs of rodents.

Researchers from the Blood Stem Cell & Cancer Research Unit at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, and the Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Clinical School, UNSW, have also shown that these disc like cells can be generated from BMSCs in culture flasks.

As it is Arrow's mission to foster research into diseases treatable by bone marrow and stem cell therapy, a funding grant of $40,000 has been approved by Arrow's Executive Committee to support this very promising research project which is now at the exciting stage of transplanting the disc like cells into rodents to test their potential to repair damaged IVDs. This new study is part of an adult stem cell programme and hopes to benefit thousands of patients with severe lower back pain.

 

Arrow's 'Evening of Elegance' Ball 2008 - Turning Heartache into Hope

When Arrow's new Ball Committee: Helen Psarakis; Karen Nunn; Leonie Pierce; Mark O'Hara and committee marketing adviser Catherine McClintock, from Eljay Marketing, set out to plan this year's 'Evening of Elegance' Ball held at the Shangri-la Hotel on Saturday 9th August, it was with the intention of turning tragedy into hope for other sufferers.

When Karen and Leonie's sister, Sandra Mason, died just a week after diagnosis, they were told by doctors that with more research funding, Sandra may still be alive today. The sisters turned their grief into support for Arrow's mission to raise funds for Leukaemia research by joining with Helen and Mark to organise the hugely successful annual fundraising event which was held on what would have been Sandra's 53rd birthday.

The elegant event was hosted by Underbelly actor Simon Westaway and was a major success largely due to overwhelming support from the business community and friends, family and associates of our dedicated Ball Committee.

Guests were treated to graceful music from a quintet from the Conservatorium of Music (for information contact emma_27_@hotmail.com) and after a delectable meal, danced the night away to the tunes of the 'Big Party Band' and Greek classics provided by Helen. Arrow thanks this year's Ball Committee for organising an evening which was enjoyed by all who attended whilst raising much needed funds for research into the treatment and cure of leukaemia.

 

Arrow funds comprehensive guides on the transplant process

Arrow supports patients and carers by funding comprehensive guides on the transplant process, enabling patients considering a transplant to make informed decisions.

In addition to the Arrow sponsored Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant - A patient's guide and Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant - A patient's guide, Arrow has proudly contributed $10,000 to the production of the newly released paediatric version of the guide titled: Blood & Marrow Transplant in Children: A guide for parents and other family members.

Copies can be ordered from the BMT Network NSW website: www.bmtnsw.com.au

 

Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC)

The forecast was for rain but the clouds parted for the 111km canoe marathon undertaken by 600 dedicated paddlers (and double that number of land crew) who took up the overnight challenge for charity. An astounding $200,000 was donated to Arrow with proceeds supporting Arrow's PhD scholarship students, a Senior Research Scientist, and their research projects into the: prevention, treatment and cure for leukaemia.

The cheque was presented to Arrow's President, David Nomchong, at the HCC presentation dinner on 19^th November 2007. "We have been overwhelmed by this extraordinary donation from the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association. The commitment of the paddlers, their ground crews, the volunteer services, their supporters and the executive committee of the HCC who have now raised over $1.9 million over 12 years towards: Cancer research projects, education scholarships, resource grants, patient care and facilities through the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation. This is an incredible longstanding partnership of which the value can never be understated," said David Nomchong.

The HCC is run entirely by volunteers and could not take place without the tireless efforts of Race Director, Caroline Kessler; President, Kent Heazlett and Wendy McLean. For information email: info@canoeclassic.asn.au

 

Count Charitable Foundation sponsors Armidale school paddlers raising a huge $50,000 for cancer research

Barry Lambert, Founder and Executive Chairman of Count Financial Ltd / Count Wealth Accountants, presented a cheque of $50,000 to Arrow's president, David Nomchong, at the Windsor HCC start on Saturday 27^th October 2007. This extremely generous donation was raised by way of sponsorship through Armidale community paddler groups, exceeding last year's donation by $10,000!

Will Warrick (pictured) was among the 64 paddlers associated with: TAS, NEGS, PLC and AHS students, and their families, who were sponsored by Count Charitable Foundation for completing the overnight paddle. Jack Abbott (pictured) provided vital landcrew support along with around 80 Armidale land crew. The huge fundraising efforts of the Armidale community were particularly relevant to TAS and NEGS who lost former students, Arjun Daniel and Fiona Reynolds, to cancer this year. Funds raised at the schools enabled new boats, named after the two students, to be constructed and paddled in the 2007 event. Arrow wholeheartedly thanks Count Charitable Foundation and the Armidale Schools for their huge efforts.

 

'Light the Night' tribute to Matthew Rennie helps to bring Arrow researchers closer to a cure

Researchers at St Vincent's Hospital (Sydney) Blood Diseases and Cancer Research Unit have identified a gene that appears to be crucial in cell survival. The goal of the project is to discover the role of the gene in the development of cancer and how it may influence the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy. "This gene is a potential target for developing new drugs to cure cancer," says Professor David Ma.

This exciting "Gene Switch" research project could not be undertaken without funds raised by the Light the Night Benefit Concert which was held on November 26^th, 2007 in memory of Matthew Rennie who has been the motivation behind the event since its conception three years ago. Matthew's brothers, Shaun and Adam, and good friends Monica and Greg Smith said they could not sit back and do nothing while Matthew fought his courageous battle against leukaemia; so together they created an enchanting concert that celebrates Matthew's life whilst raising vital funds to save the lives of others. The audience was blown away by the diverse range of overwhelming talent on show. Matthew was loved by many and to everyone who has asked Shaun and the Rennie family if there's anything they can do to show their support, the answer is a resounding YES. Shaun has asked that as many people as possible donate blood to the Red Cross and tick the bone marrow transplant box to help save lives.

This year's event raised $55,000 bringing the total amount achieved to a huge $130,000 for research into a cure for leukaemia. All proceeds will directly fund the "Gene Switch" research project which will help facilitate new strategies for cancer treatment.

For details of this event please visit www.lightthenight.com.au

 

Dave 'Coke' Wards surfing contest

The first day of the 2007 Dave 'Coke' Wards Surfing Contest was held in October 2007 at Wamberal Beach. The annual event, now in its 18^th year, is held in memory of local surfer Dave Wards who passed away from leukaemia in his twenties.

Event Director, Wayne King, says "thanks to the solid south swell, we had the opportunity to hold the event at one of Dave's favourite breaks. This set up the finals day showdown at Wamberal beach with lots of memories and passion in most of the older competitors that grew up and surfed with Dave Wards."

The competitors and friends of Dave Wards raised over $8000 for Arrow. This brings the total raised to almost $170,000 since the event's commencement! Special thanks must go to the remarkable efforts of the organisers, particularly Cris Beeby and Wayne King.

 

Cardinal Pell joins Arrow in support of advances in adult stem cell research for leukaemia and related diseases

Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, commenced his role as Patron of Arrow on Friday, 9th November 2007.

Cardinal George Pell was born in Ballarat in 1941 and was educated in that city at Loreto Convent and St Patrick's College. He studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Werribee, and Propaganda Fide College, Rome, and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Ballarat, St Peter's Basilica, Rome, in 1966.

In 1987 Cardinal Pell was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and in July 1996 Pope John Paul II appointed him seventh Metropolitan Archbishop of Melbourne. He was appointed the eighth Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney in 2001, and elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals in 2003.

Cardinal Pell holds a Licentiate in Theology from Urban University, Rome (1967), a Masters Degree in Education from Monash University, Melbourne (1982), and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Church History from the University of Oxford (1971). He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, and was Visiting Scholar at Campion Hall, Oxford University, in 1979 and at St Edmund's College, Cambridge University, in 1983. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund's in 2003.

Cardinal Pell was made a Companion in the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2005 for service to the Catholic Church in Australia, and internationally, for raising debate on matters of an ethical and spiritual nature, to education, and to social justice.

Since 2001, Cardinal Pell has been a weekly columnist for Sydney's Sunday Telegraph. His other publications include: The Sisters of St Joseph in Swan Hill 1922-72 (1972), Catholicism in Australia (1988), Rerum Novarum: One Hundred Years Later (1992), Issues of Faith and Morals (OUP, 1996), Catholicism and the Architecture of Freedom (1999), and Be Not Afraid (2004), a collection homilies and writings from the last forty years. God and Caesar, a selection of Cardinal Pell's essays on religion, politics and society, was published by Catholic University of America Press and Connor Court Publishing in October 2007.

In earlier years Cardinal Pell was a keen sports coach in soccer, Aussie Rules and rowing. He is Vice Patron of the Richmond Football Club and a long term supporter and member of the Club since he signed to play with them in 1959.

In 2003 Cardinal Pell's commitment to the search for treatments for life-threatening illnesses led to the establishment of a grant from the Archdiocese of Sydney to support adult stem cell research. The first grant of $50,000 was won that year by Professor Alan Mackay-Sim of Griffith University for a project which was designed to see whether adult stem cells derived from the nose had therapeutic potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Professor Mackay-Sim was subsequently appointed Director of the National Adult Stem Cell Research Centre at Griffith University.

In 2005 a $100,000 grant was awarded to Dr Pritinder Kaur of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute for a project which was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells derived from the skin in regenerating human skin after catastrophic burns.

In 2007 the $100,000 grant was won by an Adelaide-based research team, led by Associate Professor Stan Gronthos and Dr Simon Koblar, for a project to investigate the capacity of stem cells derived from human dental pulp tissue to differentiate into neuronal cells, and hence whether they have the potential to be used in treating people who have suffered strokes.