SYDNEY, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Three health charities have been given a much-needed boost at a time when the charity sector, which relies heavily on income from public events and other in-person fundraising initiatives, is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Starlight Children's Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia have received almost $110,000 in donations from AFT Pharmaceuticals as a result of a fundraising drive to support vulnerable Aussies and get people talking about health.
The company's founder and CEO, Hartley Atkinson says the donation will make a real difference to people's health. "I am delighted that through the support of our pharmacy partners and customers we have been able make this significant donation to our chosen health charities. At this time our most vulnerable are facing great hardship and now more than ever these charities need our support so they can continue on with the important work they do in our communities."
The fundraising initiative ran over a six-month period in 2019 and saw AFT donate $1 from each Maxigesic® pack purchased from participating pharmacies to the customer's choice of one of the three charities – Starlight Children's Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation or Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Kristie Caddick, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Starlight Children's Foundation, says the donation will enable them to continue their ongoing work at a time when families are faced with the added stress of being impacted by the pandemic. "Right now, in all areas of healthcare things are changing rapidly. Starlight is working as closely as ever with our partners in the children's hospitals to ensure we can continue to deliver our programs in any way we can.
"Our focus remains to provide the positive impact of Starlight to children, young people and their families when they need it most."
Every minute of every day, a child is admitted to hospital in Australia and every month children and their families make over 15,000 visits to Starlight Express Rooms. As the needs of hospitals change during the pandemic, Starlight is finding creative new ways to keep seriously ill children and young people connected through its programs.
"We are already well placed with Starlight TV delivered to the bedside of sick kids and Livewire.org.au, our online adolescent peer support program. And we're exploring other technology solutions such as 'virtual' Rocket Rounds by Captains for kids isolated in their hospital rooms.
"Excluding travel, we continue to deliver the life changing impact of Starlight Wishes which provides something positive to look forward to after the pain and stress of treatment and hospitalisation. In these challenging times Starlight continues to be a light in the darkness for our sick kids and their families," says Kristie.
The donation also supports the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) whose focus right now is being able to continue funding its existing research projects. A big part of this is funding the researchers' salaries so they are able to carry on with their lifechanging research during the lockdown period.
"With challenging financial conditions forecast over the coming months, the AFT donation has come at the time of most need for the OCRF. These funds will go towards supporting our researchers so they can continue analysis work from home right now where applicable, as well as helping get them back into their labs as soon as practically possible," says OCRF CEO Lucinda Nolan.
Professor Jeff Dunn AO, CEO at Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia says the funding would provide life-saving support for Australian men and families impacted by prostate cancer.
"Men living with prostate cancer and their families are especially vulnerable to the effects of this pandemic and many have now had their treatment delayed. They need us now more than ever.
"This funding will go towards meeting unprecedented demand for our services and supporting PCFA nurses on the frontlines of fighting coronavirus and prostate cancer," he said.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is the voice of 200,000 men living with prostate cancer. It promotes and funds world-leading research; offers support though groups and Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses; and provides education programs for the Australian community and health professionals.
Maxigesic®, a world-first, specific-combination analgesic, was developed by Australasian pharmaceutical company AFT Pharmaceuticals and is now licensed in more than 125 countries around the world.
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