2010 City2Surf: A Run for a Purpose

On Sunday 8th August, a record 80,000 people gathered to run or walk the scenic 14km stretch from the city to Bondi for the 40th annual City2Surf. From super athletes to strollers, everyone had their personal reasons for taking on the challenge. For the Arrow supporters who entered, the main aim was to raise funds for people suffering from leukaemia and other diseases treatable by bone marrow and stem cell therapy.

Although the race winner was announced well before many of us even crossed the start line, Arrow supporters should be proud of the $11,000 that was raised through their efforts. Professor David Ma was the highest individual fundraiser and 'Harri and Amber' formed the highest fundraising team raising $3205 in memory of their friend, Cara Schwartz, who was a passionate Arrow supporter. Leonie Pierce, Karen and Rachel Nunn, and the 'Running for Sandra' team raised $2000, contributing largely to the total raised.

 

Arrow supporter Karen Kennedy kindly offered to share her inspirational story:

"On Sunday 8th August I geared up for my third walking of the City2Surf fun run. It was exciting to be a part of a world record breaking event. 2010 is the year Virginia Page and I celebrate 10 years post bone marrow transplant and as such we were fundraising for the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation who supported us through our transplant.

In 2002 I also received a double lung transplant and, as such, I proudly wore my Australian Heart/Lung Transplant Association (AHLTA) hat and t-shirt with the logo "Living Proof - Organ Donation Works" which was coined by my niece for my first running of the City2Surf in 2004. I hope that the many people who passed me took notice of my t-shirt and thought about organ donation."

 

The 'Nat Pack' tackles a half marathon for Arrow

By Vicky Jones

On 18th July, the 'Nat Pack', made up of a group of some very fit (and some very unfit) friends of Natalie Lanworthy, decided to take on the challenge of running the half marathon in the Hunter Valley. The purpose was to raise $5,000 for Arrow and to increase awareness about becoming a bone marrow donor. Arrow has been supporting Nat since she discovered she had leukemia so we wanted to do something to say thank you.

Nat came up to the Hunter Valley and cheered us all over the finishing line; we all ran quicker than we expected to and we smashed our target raising a massive $6644!

Nat is the most positive, wonderful mum (and dear friend of mine). She has shown such amazing strength throughout her treatment and has not once felt sorry for herself. Her daughter Elkie, partner Andy & mother Deborah have all been amazingly strong too.

Nat underwent her Bone Marrow Transplant last Wednesday, 4th August, so we are now all just waiting for her speedy recovery. She ran a full marathon a couple of years ago so I am sure she will be able to do a few more when she is back to full strength.

 

Arrow funds new clinical trial into Graft Versus Host disease

Patients who have experienced painful ulceration of the mouth caused by Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) will understand the critical need for improved treatment in this area. The good news is that thanks to Arrow and the Allan Frenkel Foundation, sufferers now have access to Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A (PUVA wands) which works to alleviate the pain which often prevents patients from eating.

In March this year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the use of PUVA wands as a device and drug for a new clinical trial at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. The training of nurses commenced a week following the approval.

The Allan Frenkel Foundation's 12th annual fundraising dinner on Saturday 7th August was attended by Arrow board member, Colleena Presnell, who was presented with a further generous donation of $20,000 to fund Arrow's patient support services including: the Tracey Scone Wig Library, patient travel and accommodation costs, a patient emergency fund and six nursing scholarships.

 

Marisa Frenkel, founder of the Allan Frenkel Foundation, says, "Saturday was a great night. We raised $15,000+, as we are still receiving a few more donations, so all in all a very successful night. I'm very happy the $20,000 we raised will go towards projects for families and patients that are facing difficult times while going through treatment. We believe practical support is vital. As we've been there ourselves we realise how much of a difference it can make not just practically but emotionally too, which is why the Allan Frenkel Foundation loves to be a part of these programs with Arrow."

 

For further information about the Allan Frenkel Foundation, visit: www.allanfrenkelfoundation.org.au.

 

Severe Degenerative Intervertebral Disc Disease

Severe degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) disease is a primary cause of lower back pain which is a major health problem that affects a large number of people, and places an enormous economic burden on society. This disease is characterised by the loss of functional cells within IVDs and is currently incurable. Arrow's $40,000 grant for research funding into stem cell therapy for treating this condition supported studies conducted by the researchers at both the Blood Stem Cell & Cancer Research Unit at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, and the Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Clinical School, UNSW. Researchers showed that human bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are able to produce functional IVD-like cells under optimal culture conditions in the presence of specific growth factors. In separate experiments human BMSCs were shown to survive when transplanted into the IVDs of rodents. This significant outcome has been presented to two international conferences, and published in several scientific journals.

 

End of a decade: Government takes over long term Arrow grant

For over ten years Arrow has supported the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry (ABMTRR) by funding the salary of a part-time data collector at an annual cost of $36,000. The Federal Government has recently announced that it will take on this cost from the end of the year.

Arrow will continue to fund the printing of the Annual Data Summary which provides doctors and other health professionals from Australia and New Zealand with a compilation of transplant patient data used to formulate treatments for patients. Arrow will also maintain the support of the ABMTRR's ad hoc projects as they arise.

 

Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC)

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) celebrated its 32nd year in 2009 continuing a long and rewarding association with Arrow. Arrow's Chairman, David Nomchong, was struck speechless when presented with an amazing $280,000 following the 2009 event in which almost 600 paddlers, and double that number of land crew, took up the overnight challenge for charity.

Arrow Vice President, Mark O'Hara, Executive Committee member, Darren Williams, and Dr John Kwan from St Vincent's Hospital were among the hundreds of dedicated paddlers who were unaware of the massive total raised by the event as they raced 111km overnight from Windsor to Brooklyn on the 24th - 25th October, 2009.

The race is described by the HCC as a 'fun race with a serious purpose' and with over 10,000 people projected to be diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma in the coming year [1], and with incidence on the rise, the race has an extremely serious purpose. The support of the HCC is vital in the battle against leukaemia and other devastating diseases treatable by bone marrow and stem cell transplants. To date, the HCC has raised over $2 million in support of Arrow's Research Scientist and PhD scholarship students conducting research projects into the: prevention, treatment and cure for leukaemia.

"We have been overwhelmed by this extraordinary donation from the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association and the commitment of the paddlers, their ground crews, the volunteer services, their supporters and the executive committee of the HCC. This is an incredible longstanding partnership of which the value can never be understated," said David Nomchong.

Also exceeding all expectations, the Count Foundation from Armidale, in association with The Armidale School (TAS) and its community, presented a cheque to the HCC in support of Arrow for $62,000; an outstanding effort in these economic times.

The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation could not exist without the continued support of the HCC, and the HCC could not take place without the tireless efforts of Race Director, Caroline Kessler; President, Kent Heazlett and Wendy McLean, its executive committee, volunteers and the paddlers - and we thank you.

For information email: info@canoeclassic.asn.au

^[1] Cancer projections for Australia 2002-2011 - AIHW 2005

 

Patients to benefit from Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A (PUVA)

Until now, patients suffering from painful blistering of the mouth due to Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) following an allogeneic stem cell, or bone marrow, transplant had no specific treatments available to help ease the painful ulceration which often left them unable to eat or drink properly at a time when nutrition is paramount. Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A (PUVA) wands designed to alleviate this painful blistering are now being used by patients at St Vincent's Hospital's Bone Marrow Transplant Ward as part of a clinical trial which resulted from the generosity of Marisa Frenkel, founder of the Allen Frenkel Foundation. Marisa donated three wands at a cost of $745 each in memory of her son, Allen, who suffered from this painful ulceration of the mouth.

Nurses have undergone the training required to administer the PUVA wand therapy and are excited to be providing the previously unavailable benefits to patients. A full report of the impact of the new equipment and clinical trial will be available in the next edition of the Arrow newsletter.

 

First prize for Arrow / HCC scholarship recipient, Dr Adam Bryant, at the New Directions in Leukeamia Research Conference

Arrow / HCC PhD student, Adam Bryant, recently won 1st prize for the presentation of his poster titled: miR-10a-a potential oncomiR at the New Directions in Leukaemia Research Conference, Sunshine Coast, March 2010.

Identification of microRNAs involved in myelomonocytic differentiation by expression profiling of AML was also presented at the conference by Mark Lutherborrow and co-authored by Arrow funded research scientist, Catalina Palma, and Adam Bryant. (Author list: Mark Lutherborrow, Adam Bryant, Vivek Jayaswal, David Agapiou, Catalina Palma, Yee Hwa Yang and David Ma.)

The first prize was for another poster titled ETV6.MN1 in collaboration with the cytogenetics department at Sydpath, headed by Mary Suter. Samantha Larssen undertook studies and presented the poster that won First Prize for Best Poster at the Annual Conference of the Australasian Society of Cytogeneticists (Canberra, March, 2010). This poster, co-authored by Adam Bryant, publicly reported for the first time that a special gene mutation fusing the genes ETV6 and MN1 is able to cause Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Arrow funding helped Adam perform the genet testing component required to prove the presence of this abnormality and thus contributes to our understanding of the biology underlying this serious disease.

 

Light the Night

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 is held annually at the City Recital Hall in memory of Matthew Rennie, who has been the motivation behind the event since its conception four 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. Cole Rennie 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.

Matthew's legacy has grown into a must see on the Australian musical events calendar and has raised almost $200,000 in support of leukaemia research. The $45,000 raised in 2009 will fund the Gene Control in Acute Leukaemia project which follows from the Zinc Finger project (Gene Switch) also funded by Light the Night

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