Patron
Dr Cliff Hosking
Since its establishment in 1996, the Hunter Children’s Research Foundation (HCRF) has been dedicated to improving children’s health. With $2.65 million raised to fund vital paediatric research, we focus on supporting groundbreaking studies into serious childhood illnesses. As an auspice group of the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and in partnership with HNEKidsHealth, we ensure that the research we support has a lasting impact both locally and globally.
In 2022, our co-founders Janelle Shakespeare and Lorraine Gardner were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their service to children’s health medical research. This honour reflects the collective impact of all who have supported HCRF over the years.
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HCRF’s journey began with a modest fundraising event in 1996, a bus trip to the vineyards that raised $800. Fast forward to 2024, and our Hunter Construction Group Lunch for the Kids, held in the vineyards with Johanna Griggs, raised a remarkable $57,000. This incredible growth highlights the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters, reinforcing the importance of our mission.
HCRF is powered entirely by a passionate volunteer committee that ensures every dollar raised is used effectively. While all funds stay in the Hunter region, they support local researchers tackling paediatric health challenges in collaboration with experts worldwide. Over nearly three decades, we’ve funded life-changing research, helping secure millions in additional funding from organizations like the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), keeping the Hunter at the forefront of children’s health research.
Looking to the future, we are excited to continue making a lasting impact. With new committee members joining in 2024, HCRF remains committed to turning hope into action and dreams into discoveries. It’s humbling to know the work of our committee has touched countless lives and contributed to advancements once thought impossible.
HCRF: Making a Difference in Children’s Health
Without your support, many life-saving research projects would remain just ideas on a shelf, never reaching their full potential.
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That’s why every dollar raised by HCRF fuels groundbreaking projects and supports world-leading research into conditions like asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and sleep disorders - the types of illnesses that can turn any family’s world upside down.
HCRF isn’t just writing cheques; they’re funding dreams. They provide researchers with the tools they need, working with research experts who bring these dreams to life, and offer grants that enable projects capable of changing the lives of children and their families across the globe.
A Story of Hope: Breakthrough in Cystic Fibrosis Research One such project, funded by HCRF, focused on advancing cystic fibrosis research, a condition that affects the lungs and digestive system of children. For years, researchers had been exploring the potential of a new drug that could help children with cystic fibrosis breathe easier. Thanks to the funding HCRF provided, the research team was able to run essential trials and gather data that led to a significant breakthrough.
The drug, which was once just an idea, is now showing promise in clinical trials and could soon become an approved treatment, offering hope for thousands of families. This is just one example of how your support is transforming the future of children’s health, one groundbreaking discovery at a time.
HCRF is an auspice group of HMRI, meaning we operate as a volunteer committee under the governance of HMRI.
HCRF is a volunteer committee dedicated to raising funds that go directly towards research supporting children and families in the Hunter New England Region and across the globe.
