Media Releases
September 2008
Sports legends join Tracey Wickham to launch Hannah's Chance Foundation
Laurie Lawrence, Jessicah Schipper, Susie O’Neill, Duncan Armstrong, Darren Lockyer, Wayne Bennett, Nikki Hudson, Alan Border and Ian Healy will be at the Wesley Research Institute in Brisbane to help launch the Foundation which aims to raise money for medical research into the rare type of cancer called sarcoma which claimed Hannah’s young life.
Queensland’s world champion swimmer Tracey Wickham said the event was being held on the first day of Spring as a reflection of Hannah’s bubbly, fresh personality.
‘We couldn’t think of a better day than this to honour Hannah and I am so grateful to all my family and friends for being here today. It was her dream to establish the Foundation and I am privileged to be a part of making it a reality,” she said.
In a heartfelt plea, Tracey said:
“During my swimming career and throughout my life I have always given 100 per cent to the people of Queensland and Australia. Since Hannah was diagnosed, my life as I knew it has slowly unravelled I have a favour to ask of the Australian public – please donate to Hannah’s Chance Foundation to help ensure no mother, father, brother, sister or partner has to endure the pain Hannah and our family endured. Through medical research we can make all the difference.”
The Brisbane-based Wesley Research Institute administers the Foundation and will oversee its research projects. The Foundation will also be supported by an Advisory Group, which provides medical, legal and business expertise.
Laurie Lawrence, a long-time friend and mentor of Tracey and her family, will join the Foundation’s launch to show his support.
“We Australians had some of the best athletes in the world in Beijing, and do you know what? We have some of the best doctors and medical researchers here, too. I want to do all I can to make sure they can do their jobs so the world is no longer robbed of precious angels like Hannah,” he said.
“During her swimming career little Tracey Wickham showed Australia the massive impact someone so small can make. I urge every Australian to give a little to the Foundation and, like Tracey, we can make a big difference.”
The establishment of the Foundation was the dream of Hannah and her husband Tom O’Driscoll. Their shared vision of a world free of sarcoma and the devastation it causes began when they were both undergoing treatment for the condition.
Sarcoma is the most aggressive primary cancer with only a 50 per cent survival rate. Tragically, these tumours most commonly strike adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25.
Hannah fought very bravely against the rare synovial sarcoma for three years until she lost her battle on 2 October 2007, aged 19. Tom suffered from Ewings sarcoma, but fortunately is now in remission.
Tom and Hannah’s relationship had all the hallmarks of a fairy tale romance but only 10 days prior to their planned wedding day, they had a moving marriage ceremony by Hannah’s bedside. Hannah succumbed to her illness only three hours later with Tom and her family by her side.
“Both Han and I wanted people to understand and be aware of this type of cancer and how there are little funds available for research,” Tom said.
“I am in a position where I have seen both sides of the fence; I am a survivor who has also lost someone I love. This has made me determined to carry on my beautiful wife’s courage and vision to find a cure for sarcoma through medical research.”
Due to the limited amount of research currently being undertaken on sarcomas there is every possibility that, with the community’s support, Hannah’s Chance Foundation can make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of sarcoma sufferers in Australia and around the world.
For more information or to donate, please visit www.hannahschancefoundation.org.au or call 07 3232 7264.
