By Clare BruceFriday 13 Jan 2017Hope BreakfastNewsReading Time: 2 minutes
Listen: Associate Professor Clare Scott explains how your simple backyard BBQ event, can help to cure cancer.
You know how kids sometimes think of creative solutions that busy grownups never would?
That same youthful enthusiasm brings breakthroughs in medicine, too, and it could be the ingredient that helps cure cancer, according to Cure Cancer Australia. They’re a charity that supports young scientists who can’t attract the research funding that older researchers can. And they want you to help this summer, by hosting a barbecue—and calling it a BARBECURE.
We pick up the bright young minds with the bright ideas… and focus on funding them.
Associate Professor Clare Scott from Royal Melbourne Hospital, a BARBECURE ambassador, said younger scientists are in great need of our support to help find cancer cures.
“The major challenge in Australia is fact that research funding is so limited,” she explained. “You’ll put together a research team and then have no security that you’ll be able to continue to complete your work. And research takes a long time. A good idea might take five years to bring to fruition.
“We pick up the bright young minds with the bright ideas… and focus on funding them. And we fund across all types of cancer: common cancers and rare ones.”
Young Cancer Researchers Kicking Goals
Scientists supported by Cure Cancer Australia who have had research breakthroughs, include Professor Richard Payne of Sydney University.
“He’s taken a really revolutionary approach to developing a cancer vaccine, looking at the unusual sugar molecules on cancer cells,” explained Ms Scott.
Professor Payne has just been awarded a Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his work, as well as the 2016 Malcolm Macintosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.
And Professor Megan Hitchins, who was funded by Cure Cancer Australia 12 years ago, did very unique research into how bowel cancer can be passed down through generations. This work helped with cancer risk prediction, and prevention.
Host a BARBECURE to Beat Cancer
The BARBECURE campaign, running all summer long, invites Aussies to host a barbecue and collect donations from friends and family for the Cure Cancer Australia cause. Iconic Aussie actor Paul Hogan is the event ambassador, and is pictured (appropriately) brandishing a giant king prawn on the event website.
Event organisers hope many Aussies will get behind the cause, with cancer diagnosis rates now reaching 1 in 2 for Australian men and 1 in 3 for women.
“We’re certainly seeing an improvement in the cure rate, but…everyone knows someone,” said Associate Professor Scott. Over the age of 50, 1 in 2 people may be diagnosed with a cancer and far too many people are not cured.”
Get Involved
Individuals, community groups, corporates and businesses are all being encouraged to get involved. To find out more, go to barbecure.com.au/host-a-barbecure.
