The Cause

The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation (RCHF) works in support of the Royal Children'sHospital (Brisbane), Queensland's leading paediatric critical care facility.Established in 1986, the RCHF helps raise essential funds to support groundbreaking researchfor faster diagnoses, better treatments and ultimately cures for some of the most seriouschildhood illnesses. RCHF is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which does not receivegovernment funding, relying on the generosity of the community to work wonders for sick kids.

Each year, the Royal Children’s Hospital cares for more than 30,000 children from all overQueensland, northern New South Wales and beyond.

Our team of 500 friendly volunteers helps deliver a patient care program which provides practicalsupport to staff, sick kids and their families. Volunteers provide friendly information services,

time-out for parents through playing with kids on the wards, and assist in clinical areas includingoperating theatres.

Since its inception, the Foundation has invested over $180 million into substantive paediatricmedical research and equipment at the Hospital.

Funds raised from Swim4Kids have helped the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation accomplishsome great things.

Some of our accomplishments in the areas of burns, infectious diseases, oncology andrespiratory illnesses include:

BURNS

The lifelong consequences of a burn injury make it one of the most devastating injuries a childcan sustain with many requiring years of ongoing treatment. Our funding of vital research into

• burns has led to:
• Faster heading for children with burns
• Increased public awareness of burns prevention and first aid treatments
• Identification of a protein believed to help unlock the secrets of scarless healing for kids
• with serious burns

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Infectious diseases such as meningococcal, meningitis, croup and hepatitis affect hundreds

of kids each year. Many are lethal die to the speed they can kill or disable a young child. Our

funding of vital research into infectious diseases has led to:

• A world first, one hour test to diagnose meningococcal disease
• Developing the most effective H1N1 – swine flu – assay test worldwide

ONCOLOGY

Cancer is the most common cause of death in childhood, excluding accidents. It can take away

a child’s strength, destroy organs or bones and weaken a child’s defence against illnesses. Our

funding of vital research into oncology has led to:

• Queensland’s first tumour bank for cancer biology studies supporting world class
• research around Australia

Better and less invasive treatments and outcomes for kids with cancer.

RESPIRATORY

More than 95% of Australian infants under the age of just 2 will be affected by a respiratory illness such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, croup or bronchiolitis. For any parent there is nothing more distressing than seeing a child who cannot breathe. Our funding of vital research into

respiratory illnesses has led to:

• Extending the lives of children with cystic fibrosis
• Better understanding of the causes of childhood asthma