The end of a favourite chapter

[emailed 01/08/2014)

Hi All,

As I write this update I am sitting in the departure lounge at terminal 4 in Heathrow, heading back to Australia once again.

Some four weeks after my last post I received the call that I had been expecting but never wanted to arrive. At 6 minutes past nine in the evening of the 18th of July my mother passed away with my Father and Sister at her side. My sister called me a little while later - which was in the pre-dawn of Saturday morning for me in Australia. The last weeks were difficult for all concerned, but were made easier by the excellent care provided by the people at the Cranmere Court Care Home.

During this last week my father and I made a quick visit to the home to donate a few of the many house plants my mother had maintained and that would be too many for my father to remember while he has his gardening 'L' plates on. It was a pleasure to meet some of the people who had made my mother's last days easier, and reduced the burden on my family.

The funeral was on Wednesday with everything organised by my sister. I know understand why it means so much for the grieving family to have relatives and friends around them to share the stories and to make a hard day a little easier.

Watching the news this morning in London I saw that the announcement of a 300m GBP investment in genome research in the UK, targetting amongst other things the ability to identity and treat cancer in earlier stages with better outcomes. The politician claimed the UK to be leading the world in this race (I think the commonwealth games was adding some spin to the spin). This October I'll be proud to wear the colours of team Australia - but to be honest I don't mind who wins, because we will all win whichever team crosses this line first - and like the games themselves, there is respect and support amongst all those who play on this field.

Before I left for the UK last Saturday night I took the opportunity for one last long ride before a week off. It was a miserable dank "dreich" (in Scottish) affair, 130km ride - but the fastest I've ever made down from Port Melbourne to Frankston when I was hanging on with some tough riders, and took a turn at the front for a while. Leaving the summer warmth of England (no kidding, its warm and sunny here), I'm not sure I want to put the 14 separate items of clothing back on again to climb on the bike in the Melbourne winter, but it is good therapy and so long as keep the bike rubber side down and I can get back home early enough in the day, no harm comes of it. I'll be home late on Saturday night, and may be out early on Sunday morning, that's what jet-lag and a cycling problem will do to you.

Many many thanks to all those who have already donated to my ride this year. It means a lot to me and a lot to the people who matter in Cancer Research. I have reached the minimum level required to ride, but I'd like to set my sites much higher this year so those of you who were thinking of donating, or intending to donate, please do so.

Remember that you are the author of your own story. Make it a good one, and make sure you take the time to celebrate the stories of others you know and love.

Till the next time,

John.

If we get a $20bn health research fund, what does that mean?

Having stated in my last post that there were no surprises expected in the new Australian Government's budget - they pull a $20bn health research fund rabbit out of the hat. Well I guess that's the nature of surprises, if you knew they were coming, it wouldn't be a surprise.

Other than making me swallow humble pie and retire my crystal ball, what does it mean for medical research an institutions such as Peter MacCallum? One early response I got when I asked the question was "the $20B is very welcome news for the sector and visionary in many ways as Australia plans for a post-resource boom economy. The money will gradually increase over the next 3-4 years and no doubt be very good news for Peter Mac, as Australia's leading cancer research group. However substantial funding is 4 years away (if its gets through the senate) and patients need advances now!"

One article written by Dan Harrison of the Sydney Morning Herald (online http://www.smh.com.au/national/new-20-billion-medical-research-fund-wonky-wedge-or-wonder-cure-20140517-38gss.html#ixzz32QnQpi94) gave some further consideration. While details are still being worked out, key take home messages seem to be:

• The money wouldn't be available immediately - the fund needs to grow up to $20bn and that isn't expected until 2020 and then the distribution made available is the interest on the capital, which would mean something like $500m in 2020 and $1bn in 2022.
• The distribution will be across a number of priority health priority areas (arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, injury, mental health and obesity).
• It still needs approval and is being tied to the less politically palatable cost co-payments initiatives (such as the $7 fee for GP visits)

So nothing is certain yet, other than the fact that there is research that needs funding right now, and that events such as the ride to conquer cancer will still have a very important place in allowing Peter MacCallum the capacity and discretion to fund their medical research.

Travelling light

It's Mother's day here in Australia and Melbourne airport is surprisingly quiet, evidently not many people travel away on Mother's day. I'm here at the start of the long haul to London.

I'm staying for nearly two weeks on this trip, but travelling light with only one piece of hand luggage. This caused the Cathay Pacific guy at the check in desk to have a pleasant but possibly security triggered conversation with me. When I said I was travelling for family reasons he asked if it was to see my mother (it being mother's day), when I said 'yes' he said I was a good son to surprise my mother. Feeling that I might be getting too much praise, I explained that it wasn't quite a surprise and that she hadn't been too well recently. To which his reply was, "still a good son". Nice touch.

My mother is still at home being looked after by my dad, which is a great achievement by both of them. As we were warned, the steroids used to control the swelling from the tumour growth come with side effects that become increasingly apparent over time. In my mother's case it has significantly weakened her and caused swelling, but she is understandably proud to have regrown her hair. My father has put in a stair lift, a special bed, chair, grab rails around the house and they now have a wheel chair. As a finishing flourish, he's also installed a fish tank, with fish!

My sister will take a few days of her work while I'm over and apparently we aim to visit the site of the London Olympics. Maybe I should take a look at the velodrome... Been doing quite a few kilometres recently, but I don't think I'm quite ready... :)

Here in Australia we are only a couple of days away from our new government's budget. It's expected to be severe and no one is expecting grants for medical research, or even medical care, to increase. This means that funds from events like the ride to conquer cancer are ever more important to institutions such as the Peter Mac.

In my last mail out communication on my journey to the ride to conquer cancer, I mentioned that Sandra had asked the guests of her Great Gatsby themed 50th to donate money to my ride rather than buy presents. The generosity of our guests, and others who have donated separately, has seen me reach over 1/3 of the way to my target - but there is still a way to go.

Every little counts.

Til the next time,

John