News

MDAS signs on as major Relay for Life sponsor

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 04:02:00

Mallee District Aboriginal Services has stepped up to back one of Mildura’s biggest annual charity events in this weekend’s Relay for Life.

MDAS and the Healthy for Life Program are one of two major sponsors of the 11th relay which starts at three o clock on Saturday and runs overnight.
The Cancer Council fundraiser has this year drawn 113 teams, 70 percent of which are youth teams with a connection to cancer in some way. 
MDAS has put together an impressive relay force, with about 35 staff, board-members and community members signing on, including the organisation’s chief executive Rudolph Kirby.
Mr Kirby said MDAS had extended its involvement from entering a team last year to major sponsorship this year because of the relay’s importance for the Koori community.
“Indigenous people are 50 percent more likely to die of cancer than non-indigenous people – it’s a major factor in the 10 year gap that still exists in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people,” Mr Kirby said.
“Cancer survival rates for Indigenous people diagnosed with cancer are also 12 percent lower than the general population,” he said.
“As an organisation we are taking a different approach – a much more proactive, lifestyle-focussed approach – than we have in the past, in trying to address the issue.
“We provide health services and wellbeing services, but a lot of the real issues in improving Koori health outcomes are in supporting people to make positive lifestyle changes.  That’s why getting involved and encouraging the Community to be involved in things like Relay for Life is so important.”
Each year an average 296 people are diagnosed with cancer in the Rural City of Mildura.  However Relay for Life co-ordinator Scott Hopkins said fundraisers like Relay for Life were improving the outcomes for people diagnosed.
“Five-year survival is now at 64 percent – the highest it has ever been – two decades ago, the figure was just 47 percent,” Mr Hopkins said.
“The improvement is largely due to breakthroughs in early detection, prevention and treatment and fundraising is an important part of that process.
“Here in Mildura we have raised $1,010,296 in the past 10 years and each year it continues to grow.  With the support we have on board this year, we’re hoping this relay will be one of our most successful yet.”