The Millennium Foundation

Fundraising Events

The Millennium Foundation depends on generous contributions and support from both businesses and the community to assist in all aspects of fundraising.

From community groups and individuals who wish to fundraise on behalf of The Millennium Foundation, our role is to support, encourage and assist in the planning and operational process.

It's a wonderful way to meet people, make friends and have fun whilst raising funds to find cures that save lives at Westmead. Please call The Millennium Foundation on (02) 9845 6289 and ask to speak to Linda Rainsford, Project Manager for further details.

On this page you will find:

• Events in 2008
• Some of our Past Events

Events in 2008

Some of our Past Events

• The Millennium Foundation Awards
• Pollie Pedal 2007 - by Tony Abbott
• Steps Closer to a cure for Ovarian Cancer
• Princess Quest raises funds for diabetes research
• Tastefully raising funds
• A night with the stars

Group Shot of Millennium Foundation Award recipients with Pat Wilde and Julie Owens

The Millennium Foundation Awards

Julie Owens member for Parramatta presented The Millennium Foundation Awards on Wednesday 28th November 2007 at Westmead Hospital.

Two award types and a total of $275,000 was distributed to 41 deserving medical research students.

Dr Venessa Pattullo won the coveted Foundation Intitiating Grant which supports a researcher for one year at the level National Health and Medical Research Centre stipend for medical and non-medical research students.

40 other students were awarded with a Stipend Enhancement Support or ‘top up’ grants. These awards are designed to attract the best young minds to conduct their medical research in Western Sydney.

POLLIE PEDAL 2007 - by Tony Abbott

The Hon Jackie Kelly. The Hon Pat Farmer, Member for Parramatta Julie Owens, The Hon Tony Abbott

The tenth annual Pollie Pedal bike ride was the biggest. Thanks to the contribution of our sponsors we raised more than $380,000 for breast cancer research at Westmead Millennium Institute. More than 75 riders aged between 18 and 76 took part in this year’s ride, which covered more than 1150 kilometres from Brisbane to Sydney.

Pollie Pedal would not be possible without the generosity of our loyal sponsors. With more than 50,000 charities throughout Australia, my parliamentary colleagues and I are grateful that they chose to support medical research through Pollie Pedal. What is particularly special about Pollie Pedal is that our sponsors don’t just write a cheque and walk away. Most participate. Most have ten gruelling days on a hard bike seat in return for donating. This year we had thirty corporate sponsors with riders from 18 companies taking part, including the CEO’s of five companies.

This year, nine federal pollies took up the challenge including Jim Lloyd, Sussan Ley, Pat Farmer, Jackie Kelly, Luke Hartsuyker, Louise Markus, Julie Owens and Senator Guy Barnett.

There is no other event in Australia that compares to Pollie Pedal. It’s a ride but not a race. Competition is replaced by camaraderie. It’s a chance to travel but it’s not a holiday. It takes hours to complete the 130km per day and when you reach the destination there is no hot bath or nice hotel room but a communal caravan shower block and a tent.

It’s an opportunity to do something green and healthy. Pollie Pedal promotes cycling as an important ‘green’ mode of transport and a very healthy activity in which people of any age and fitness level can participate in. It’s a challenge for charity. There are days when your entire body aches from peddling hundreds of kilometres but every rotation edges you closer to collecting the money pledged by sponsors. And, most importantly, Pollie Pedal is about fun and friendship. Some very strong friendships have been forged sitting around the campfire after a long day in the saddle.

It’s a great event that continues to grow because of the contribution and participation of sponsors.

The Hon Tony Abbott and The Hon Pat Farmer stretch before their marathon run up and down Sydney Tower.

Steps Closer to a cure for Ovarian Cancer - December 14/15 2006

Over a 24hour period The Hon Pat Farmer and The Hon Tony Abbott climbed over a combined 180,000 steps of Sydney Tower to raise money for a cure for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer kills an Australian women every 10 hours and is the 6th most common cancer killer in Australia. The money raised will fund a research program at Westmead Millennium Institute to identify the early detection pathways that will aid the assessment and treatment of patients.

‘I was determined to make a positive difference with Steps to fund research into early detection and treatment for this horrific disease that takes a mother, a wife, a sister or daughter from us more than twice a day.’ said The Hon Pat Farmer.

Pat and Tony achieved exactly that with the event not only raising valuable funds for ovarian cancer research, but raising much need awareness of the disease as the two senior federal politicians were cheered on by the crowds that amassed in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall.

This event also launched a new partnership between The Millennium Foundation and Libra, with Libra committing $50,000 to the event and embarking on a two year funding partnership to inject funds into the ovarian cancer research fund at Westmead Millennium Institute.

Our thanks to Pat, Tony, our volunteers on the day and to Libra for supporting the event.

Jill Williams (Princess Quest organiser), Councillor Allan Ezzy, Rebecca Stone (2007 Quest Entrant), Peter Treseder Executive Director The Millennium Foundation, seated  Jacqueline Dallal Princess Quest winner.

Princess Quest raises funds for diabetes research

Jacqueline Dallal and Rebecca Stone raised over $16,000 for diabetes research as part of the 2007 Rotary Club of Holroyd Princess Quest.

Jacqueline sponsored by Holroyd Lighting was crowned Princess at the Crowning Dinner held at the Holroyd Centre on Friday 18th May.

This is the 5th year Rotary Club of Holroyd has held the quest on behalf of The Millennium Foundation for ovarian cancer and diabetes research.

This fantastic amount is a tribute to the club, past princesses and their sponsoring employees and to Jill Williams of the club whose dedication to the Princess Quest has made it the success that it is.

Wine and Food Fair at Parramatta Park

Tastefully raising funds!

Over 4,000 people treated their taste buds whilst raising money for vital medical research at The Millennium Foundation Wine & Food Fair on Sunday May 20, 2007.

The glorious autumn day complimented the fabulous wine and food that was served up by some of Australia’s best wineries and noted Western Sydney restaurants, with stall holders donating their food and wine to raise funds.

The day was a huge success and would not have been possible without the support of: Figos Grill, Courtney’s Brassiere and Catering, Tingha Palace, City Extra, Lucido at Wenty’s, Amadeus Catering, Parramatta Park Café, Arthur’s Cafe, The Podium Restaurant, Whispers at Crown Plaza Norwest, PJ Gallaghers, Parramatta Rotary Club, Ocean Grove Wines, Moothi Wines, Cooks Lot Winery, nakedwine.com.au, Tintilla Estate Winery, My Shout NSW, Beelgara, Cruickshank Wines, Wine by Choice.

Sponsors of this event included Parramatta Park Trust and Baxter Healthcare and we greatly appreciate their support. A big thanks to St Johns Ambulance and our many volunteers on the day.

The Hon Bronwyn Bishop and The Hon Tony Abbott

A Night With The Stars

The Millennium Foundations premier event ‘A Night With The Stars’ surpassed all fundraising expectations raising a record $985,000 on the night making it one of Sydney’s most prestigious charity dinners.

The sold out event was held at the Sydney Convention Centre on Friday 16th March. The 1,080 guests fortunate enough to gain tickets were entertained by a number of Australian celebrities including the very talented Tim Campbell from Home and Away and Dancing with the Stars, 2006 Australian Idol runner up Jessica Mauboy, Paul Mercurio, Mark Holden, Jamie Drury, Farmer Dave Graham and Bob Downe who hosted the evening. The night also saw the return of singing duo The Hon Tony Abbott and The Hon Bronwyn Bishop who gave their version of the Judy Garland, Fred Astaire number ‘We are a couple of swells’.

Guests were reminded however, that there was a very serious side to this event when cancer patient Megan Williams and her father Paul were interviewed by Joy Smithers. Megan told her tragic story of growing up seeing her mother battle with breast cancer for 8 years, passing away when Megan was 12. At age 17 Megan began suffering from headaches and was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer. Under the care of Prof Rick Kefford (Director of Westmead Institute for Cancer Research at WMI), she under went 12 months of chemotherapy and radiation and has been in remission for five years. Then in November 2006, Megan found a small lump in her breast, she immediately went for tests where it was confirmed she had breast cancer. As well as undergoing further chemotherapy Megan made the very difficult decision of having a double mastectomy in order to avoid the struggle she saw her mother endure. The response to Megan’s story and her courageous battle to survive was overwhelming with pledges numbering $366,000 to assist The Millennium Foundation help others like Megan.

Other fundraising activities included a live auction, featuring the newly launched Volkswagen Eos Convertible, which began a bidding war with a final price of $53,000. Kostya Tszyu was literally a live auction, offering a personal training session with the lucky bidder and even Richard Branson got involved with an exclusive package including two upper class tickets to London, an invitation to Richard’s exclusive Wimbledon rooftop party and six nights in a fashionable London Hotel.

A special thank you to Lorna Raine, Di Scrivener and a large team of volunteers from Yum! assisting The Millennium Foundation to bring this event together.

Jessica Mauboy	Megan Williams and Joy Smithers	Tim Campbell and dancing partner