To mark World Cancer Day, this February 4th, Cancer Research Trust NZ is joining a global call for individuals and communities to show support, raise our collective voice, and take personal action to make progress in the fight against cancer by promoting research.
2019 marks the launch of the 3-year ‘I Am and I Will’ campaign. ‘I Am and I Will’ is an empowering call-to-action asking for a personal commitment to help reduce the impact of cancer. It is also a challenge for all of us here in New Zealand.
“Big things can happen from small beginnings,” says Cancer Research Trust Executive Director, Dr Douglas Ormrod. “This World Cancer Day, with the help of everyday Kiwis, we can give bold ideas about cancer a chance to grow.”
Cancer is New Zealand’s biggest killer, one in three Kiwis will likely be diagnosed with cancer and almost everyone will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives.
The good news is that cancer research is helping to reduce the effects of cancer. Cancer deaths have dropped nearly 30% from 1991 to 2016, in large part due to advances in early detection and treatment. In addition, survival from many common cancers is three times higher when it is diagnosed early.
That is why the Cancer Research Trust NZ has just this week awarded almost $650,000 in 15 new grants, for all cancers, across prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and end of life care in order to initiate and accelerate promising cancer research here in New Zealand. This is in addition to 23 Professional Development Awards were made earlier in 2018, taking the total amount of grants to $15.4 million since 2002.
But more can, and needs, to be done, and the Cancer Research Trust NZ is supporting the call for Kiwis to make a personal commitment to help get cancer on the run.
Whoever you are – someone living with cancer, a co-worker, a carer, a friend, a leader, healthcare worker, teacher or student – you have the power to take action.
Here are a few things that you can do this World Cancer Day:
- “I will donate to cancer research”
- “I will get my mole checked”
- “I will get a mammogram”
- “I will talk to my friends about cancer”
- “I will talk to my doctor”
“I Am and I Will”. This year, rise to the challenge and make a personal commitment to combat cancer. Your life and the lives of those you love may count on it.
If you are thinking of donating to the Trust just remember that – as every donation goes directly to cancer research – there’s hope in every dollar.
About the Cancer Research Trust New Zealand
The Cancer Research Trust New Zealand is the country’s second-biggest independent cancer research charity, funding over $15 million in research and professional development projects since 2002. The Trust provides grants to support New Zealand-based initiatives that will lead to improvements in the prevention, detection, diagnosis or treatment of all types of cancer, or improvements in palliative care. To learn more visit: www.cancerresearchtrustnz.org.nz/