Two cutting edge health research projects on the Gold Coast, that could prolong and even save lives, wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the local community.
The Gold Coast Hospital Foundation secured $100,000 in donations within just six weeks to fund the Rapid Research Project which aims to reduce diagnosis times for children with sepsis from two days to just a matter of hours.
“This is an exciting time for us on the Coast, with the Gold Coast University Hospital ideally located within the emerging Health and Knowledge Precinct,” said Kim Sutton, CEO of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation.
“This is just the start of our efforts to raise funds to support the Gold Coast Health’s research program,” she said.
The Foundation’s major fundraiser, the Hospital Heroes Ball, on Saturday night, will focus on health research.
“Considering 50 children die each year from sepsis in Australia and New Zealand it is vitally important to reduce diagnosis times as every hour increases mortality by 6 percent.”
“Another research project will test a new treatment to slow the progression of motor neurone disease, which is known as the ‘1000-day disease’ because the average patient is given a thousand days to live upon diagnosis; it also took the life of the world’s most well-known physicist, Stephen Hawking earlier this year.”
“You can’t cure the disease, but doctors at Gold Coast University Hospital will test new ways to slow disease progression, and enhance life expectancy, by using new medicinal cannabis oil.”
“It’s not only researchers and clinicians that could have an impact worldwide with their research but local residents as well, as it is their decision to donate to the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation that supports this research to happen.”
Lucy Cole, founder of Lucy Cole Prestige Properties is supporting partner and sponsor of the Hospital Heroes Ball. Not only is Ms Cole one of the region’s leading real estate agents, one of the first female auctioneers, first female REIQ branch chairs and founder of a group aimed at supporting women in real estate, she also went through a trying ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“When you get ill you feel like the whole world caves in, but it’s times like these when you need some support from your family, friends and the community. I got a lot of support when I was at my lowest, and that’s why I’m such a big supporter of community organisations now,” says Ms Cole.
“While I’ve been well for a while now, my diagnosis never really went away. It’s always in the back of my mind and I never know if cancer will be back in my life.”
To show your support to Gold Coast Hospital Foundation visit http://gchfoundation.org.au/
About Gold Coast Hospital Foundation
Not for profit Gold Coast Hospital Foundation raises funds to help deliver better health outcomes to patients and families receiving care at Gold Coast University Hospital, Robina Hospital and more than 40 health and medical facilities across the Gold Coast.
