Cancer charity group the Mardi Jackson Foundation will donate $48,000 to UQ’s premier cancer research institute tomorrow morning.
The donation, to UQ’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, has bought a specialised microscope to aid scientists in the study of the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma.
The money was raised by Former Origin Greats (FOGs), a non-profit group that helps rugby league, communities and charities.
FOGs Gene Miles, Gary Belcher, Kevin and Steve Walters, Greg Conescu, Rod Morris and Chairman Richard Turner attended a short presentation at the Institute.
The players then toured the hospital’s oncology unit meeting patients and signing posters and jerseys.
The Diamantina’s leading melanoma researcher Dr Brian Gabrielli and his Cell Cycle Group are identifying genes that make people more susceptible to melanoma.
Dr Gabrielli said the inverted fluroesence microscope allowed his staff to analyse the expression of intracellular proteins.
FOGs Chairman Mr Turner said the money was raised through FOG art unions, charity lunches and memorabilia auctions.
FOGs and the Mardi Jackson Foundation have donated about $200,000 to UQ’s Diamantina Institute so far, allowing it to buy several pieces of scientific equipment.
This is part of the $350,000 FOGs has donated to charities and rugby league development over the past four years.
Don and Lyn Jackson created the Mardi Jackson Foundation in their daughter’s memory to raise funds for cancer research and treatment.
Queensland has the world’s highest rates of malignant melanoma, which is also the most common invasive cancer in Queensland.
MEDIA: PA Hospital: Penny Geraghty (0412 548 872), Diamantina Institute: Dr Gabrielli (3240 7129) FOGS: Alan Graham (0412 782 799) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619).
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