Leukaemia Foundation
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Leukaemia Foundation is a national charity in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
dedicated to helping people who have been diagnosed with
leukaemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
,
lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The name typically refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph node ...
,
myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, a ...
, MDS, MPN, Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia,
aplastic anaemia Aplastic anemia (AA) is a severe hematologic condition in which the body fails to make blood cells in sufficient numbers. Normally, blood cells are produced in the bone marrow by stem cells that reside there, but patients with aplastic anemia ...
, or
amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which abnormal proteins, known as amyloid fibrils, build up in tissue. There are several non-specific and vague signs and symptoms associated with amyloidosis. These include fatigue, peripheral edema, weigh ...
.


History

The Leukaemia Foundation was established in
Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Australia, in 1975, with the help of hematologist Dr Trevor Olsen and the Holland Park Lions Club. In 1993, the Leukaemia Foundation of Western Australia was formed, followed by the Leukaemia Foundation of New South Wales and South Australian in 1998, then Victoria and Tasmania in 1999. In 2016, the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia and Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland unified to become one national organization. The Leukaemia Foundation now has offices across Australia.


Community commitments

The charity supports patients and family members by providing free counseling, educational services and accommodation for families who need to relocate while patients receive care. The Leukaemia Foundation invests millions of dollars per year in
blood cancer Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (American English) or tumours of the haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (British English) are tumors that affect the blood, bone marrow, lymph, and lymphatic system. Because these tissues are al ...
research aimed at improving treatments and finding a cure. It also provides aid to thousands of Australians each year by offering services like information, emotional support, and advocacy, as well as educational programs to aid patients with blood diseases, safe transportation to and from hospital treatment. One of the Leukaemia Foundation's fundraising events is the "World's Greatest Shave", in which participants shave, cut or colour their hair and raise funds to support Australians facing blood cancer. Every dollar raised will help provide support services to patients and families and keep them together.


References

{{reflist


External links


Leukaemia FoundationWorld's Greatest Shave
Cancer organisations based in Australia Foundations based in Australia Medical and health foundations