The Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation (SCCF), which has supported us since 2000, has been nominated for our Trust and Foundations Benefactor Award in 2010. For the past three years, SCCF has provided vital funding, through the Ken Callander Fellowship, for childhood cancer scientist Tamara Law, to support her research into acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) – the most common childhood cancer – with the aim of improving the chances of survival for children who relapse after treatment.

Tammy’s work focuses on measuring the small number of treatment-resistant cells, known as minimal residual disease (MRD), in children who have relapsed ALL, particularly those who take part in the ALLR3 clinical trial. This trial is designed to improve a child’s chances of surviving relapsed ALL and involves patients from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as those patients that Tammy tests from Australian and New Zealand hospitals.

The scholarship is now in its third year and has produced some exciting research outcomes that simply wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of SCCF. Its contribution is having a significant, positive impact on the lives of children who have relapsed ALL and their families.

"I am very proud to have my name associated with the research to be carried out by Tammy.  I thank the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation, of which I am a patron, and I wish Tammy all the best in her endeavours to try to win the fight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and thus save the lives of many young children."

Ken Callander
Patron – Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation