Private Melbourne
They've done it again.
Organisers of the Million Dollar Lunch have hit their mark on the 10th anniversary of the charity event, raising $1 million and taking the total over the decade to more than $10 million.
All proceeds go to the Children's Cancer Centre Foundation which now has a high-profile patron – the inaugural role going to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.
Mr McLachlan and the AFL pledged the full weight of the organisation to the foundation, which exists to improve the clinical care and quality of life of children with cancer and their families.
The announcement was made at the glittering lunch at the Park Hyatt on Friday which saw the top end of town put their hands in their pockets for the cause.
More than 450 people gathered for the fund-raising event with MCs Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley officiating and performances by Australian Idol original winner Guy Sebastian and the cast of The Lion King.
Guests included Victorian treasurer Michael O'Brien; Million Dollar Lunch chairman Tony McGinn; Children's Cancer Centre Foundation CEO Aileen Boyd-Squires; V8 Supercar driver Robert Dahlgren, Stokehouse owners Frank and Sharon Van Haandel and their team of chefs Ollie Gould, Nick Mahlook and Richard Ousby; former premier Ted Baillieu and Robyn Baillieu; Cameron Daddo; Richard Rice and John and Michelle Valmorbida.
The AFL will support, in particular, the foundation's $6.2 million flagship childhood cancer clinical research program under way at the Royal Children's Hospital.
The world-class program focuses on four cancer streams – leukaemia, bone marrow transplant, solid tumours and neuro-oncology – each supported by molecular diagnostics, and is led by a senior oncologist and international research leader in each field.
Mr McLachlan said he was thrilled to assume the new role.
"The work of the Children's Cancer Centre Foundation touches and benefits every Victorian child that is treated for cancer, along with their families," he said. "We are very proud to partner with an organisation that shares the AFL's commitment to the community and is fighting, every day, for a brighter future for our children."
The foundation distributes about $2 million annually to Victorian hospitals and research institutes to support clinical trials and clinical research to develop treatments, and funds hospital staff providing music, art and play therapy to provide psychological support for children to cope with cancer and its treatments.
