26 November 2009

Today, Tasmania’s favourite son, Ricky Ponting will lead the Australian cricket team into battle against the West Indies in the First Test in Brisbane.

But it’s another battle that has been front of mind for Ponting and his wife, Rianna who yesterday announced that their Ponting Foundation was launching a three year project to raise in excess of $500,000 for Tasmanian families that are affected by childhood cancer.

The Pontings made the announcement following months of discussions between the Ponting Foundation and key members of the Tasmanian health system that has prioritised a list of essential services, equipment, training and resources that the Foundation will now directly support.

“Our aim is to support each and every Tasmanian family that has a child diagnosed with cancer,” Ricky Ponting said.

“Approximately 20 children are diagnosed with cancer in Tasmania each year. We want to do everything we can to comfort and nurture the child while providing emotional support and financial assistance for their family,” Ponting said.

The $500,000 will be used to improve the existing MRI scanners at the Royal Hobart Hospital and Launceston General Hospital, assist with training of nurses, provide an additional pool of direct financial assistance, employ and train a psychologist, dietician and additional social workers, purchase new paediatric surgical instruments and to deliver a program of music therapy into Tasmania.

The Ponting Foundation will also directly support the many Tasmanian families that need to travel to mainland hospitals where their children receive a level of intensive and highly specialised treatment that is not available in Tasmania.

Peter and Janet Henderson of Lenah Valley are one such family with their 12 year old daughter, Francine currently undergoing treatment for Burkitt’s lymphoma in the Childrens Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. The family has been in Sydney for the past four weeks and is likely to remain at Westmead for up to six months.

The Ponting’s recently visited the Henderson’s and it didn’t take long for Francine, who is school captain at Sacred Heart College in Lenah Valley to make a new friend in the Australian cricket captain.

‘Francine gave me a few tips on how to get the best out of my team,” Ponting said.

“She is a very brave young girl and helped to reinforce to Rianna and I why we need to do everything we can to support Francine, her family and other Tasmanian families that have their world change so quickly,” he said.

‘We are just so grateful for Ricky and Rianna’s time, interest and support for Francine and all Tasmanian children with cancer,” Peter Henderson said.

“Whilst it is early days, we realise on our return to Tasmania that ongoing support treatments are equally vital for Francine’s wellbeing and the support of the Ponting Foundation will help us in this area of her treatment and that of so many others, regardless of the need for additional treatment interstate,” Henderson added.

The fund raising program will deliver a one-off special event in Tasmania across each of the next three years, an employee/employer corporate giving program for Tasmanian businesses, a wider general community donation scheme and the continuation of the highly successful Run Ricky Run program where Tasmanian’s are able to sponsor Ricky for every run that he scores.

“We are really excited about what we have planned and will distribute 100% of all monies raised directly into the essential services that we are supporting. We will be making a series of major announcements over the next four months and I urge all Tasmanians to join with me to help all our families that are affected by childhood cancer,” Ponting said.

The Pontings have raised in excess of $6m over the past six years supporting a wide range of childhood cancer causes. They formed the Ponting Foundation in 2008 and it has been very busy running a series of fund raising programs all over Australia and overseas. Its main beneficiary is the Sydney-based Red Kite organisation that delivers a holistic support service throughout the journey of childhood cancer.