Supporters of an upcoming ovarian cancer fundraiser honouring a Bangor survivor will have the chance to nab a nifty collector's item.
John Moran, an antique dealer from Ireland, is organising a charity auction event for his wife Megan, 53, who was diagnosed in December 2015. It was discovered that she had an 18-centimetre tumour in her ovary, and had eight hours of surgery to remove it. She has been in remission for three years.
"I was racking my brain looking for donations and any connection to the Shire," Mr Moran said. "Both Megan and her surgeon, Rhonda, were ex-pupils of Jannali Girls' High School. Tanya Plibersek coincidentally was school Dux. I contacted her office and she [also] donated a book for our auction."
Mrs Moran's father is donating his beloved surfboard, which he has kept in his shed for the past 50 years.
"It's a great local item that will stir up memories in some of the Leader's older readers," Mr Moran said.
The May 19 auction is at Rozelle Markets from midday. It will be the third annual event, with $35,000 raised for far.
"We decided to fundraise ourselves because we have a family full of girls," Mrs Moran said. "This cancer is seriously under-funded. No progress in survival rates has occurred in the past 30 years."
In April this year, the Morrison government launched the National Women's Health Strategy 2020-2030, with more than $50 million in funding to improve women's health.
A total of $20 million will specifically fund research to help Australian women in their fight against ovarian cancer with a focus on early detection.
Ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis, with only 43 of every 100 women diagnosed still alive five years after their diagnosis.
A complete understanding of the risk factors for ovarian cancer are not yet known and further research is required to develop comprehensive prevention and detection strategies.
The funding, from 2019-20 to 2022-23, will support ovarian cancer research under the new Medical Research Future Fund.
Researchers will be able to apply for funding through a contestable peer-reviewed funding round with the best research proposals funded to ensure impact.
