Health and medical research was at the top of the program at the Narellan Rotary Club’s Annual Friends of Rotary Charity Ball last weekend.
The Ingham Institute was the main beneficiary of the night, receiving $100,000 to support its community-driven medical research programs for South West Sydney.
The institute received eight donations dedicated to breast cancer, diabetes and mental health research.
Perich Group and Harrington Estates donated $20,000 each for diabetes and breast research.
Tony and Ron Perich also continue to support Liverpool Hospital in the development of robotic surgery.
Other donors included Dartwest Developments, Douglas Partners, Nepean Engineering, Tripodi Transport and Calibre Consulting, which contributed donations of $10,000 each for mental health, diabetes and breast cancer research.
Ingham Institute chairman Terry Goldacre said that the donations received were a testament to the benevolent spirit of corporate organisations in Macarthur and South West Sydney.
“Generous corporate philanthropists like Perich Group, Harrington Estates, Dartwest Developments, Douglas Partners, Nepean Engineering, Tripodi Transport and Calibre Consulting should be applauded for their commitment to improve health and eradicate serious diseases,” he said.
Associate professor Greg Kaplan, the chief operating officer of Ingham Institute said that the research donations were a timely booster for researchers, with many vying for limited and competitive government grants to continue their important work.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”] “These donations will go a long way in helping the institute’s researchers achieve more breakthroughs across diabetes, breast cancer and mental health research,” Prof Kaplan said.[/social_quote]
“For breast cancer specifically, research donations generated by previous years’ have led to the development of a trial to develop culturally appropriate resources for Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer and their carers – fulfilling a major need in the community.
“As a result of the funding from Perich Group, our diabetes group have been able to continue their work on enhancement and improvement of various treatment methods for diabetes patients in hospital. This includes the development of a standardised method of managing elevated glucose levels and prescribing insulin.’’
Ruth Morrison, secretary of the Rotary Club of Narellan, commended all who contributed research donations to the Ingham Institute on the night.
“This year’s Rotary Ball raised over $719,000 to support local charities that directly contribute to the South West and Macarthur regions,’’ she said.
“Again the club is humbled by the generosity it has received this year from the community.’’
