Industry swings into action for kids’ cancer research

DEFYING weather forecasts, the sun was shining on this year's Shipping Industry Golf Day, where funds raised on the day - close to $40,000 - have pushed the total raised by this event to almost one million dollars towards  for childhood cancer research at The Sydney Children's Hospital at Westmead  

The day began with teams meeting for early coffee and breakfast before claiming their golf carts and hitting the course, which was once again at Long Reef Golf Club in Sydney's northern beaches.

Teams from across the shipping and logistics sector battled it out for bragging rights to 'closest to the pin' and 'longest drive' and an additional challenge this year for a hole in one, the winner of which would receive a bottle of Grange. Despite the breadth of golfing talent present, no one managed to bag the Grange, which was auctioned off, to raise more funds for the charity.

At the lunch presentation, Owen Finegan, chief executive of the Kids Cancer Project  highlighted the significant financial contributions made by the charity to advance childhood cancer research. and commended the shipping & logistics industry saying : "The shipping and logistics industry has been able to invest close to a million dollars. It’s an amazing result," he said.

 The room then heard from head of the oncology unit at Westmead, Dr Geoff McCowage who gave positive updates on previous patients who had attended the golf day, and introduced little Flynn who was diagnosed at three months old with an aggressive infantile fibrossarcoma - a 440ml abdominal tumor that was blocking his left kidney. Flynn received treatment in the form of oral larotrectinib and within five weeks his tumor was just 12 mm. It is now undetectable. Speaking of the charity funded research programs involved in Flynn's case, and other similar cases, Dr Cowage told the room  "It’s because we have a research program that kids (like these) can get a drug like that.”  

To further add to the donations received on the day, a regular feature of the event is the 'heads and tails' where committee member, Tony Cousins shows off his coin-flipping talents, and whittles the room down to one lucky winner.

The day has become very much a regular in the industry event calendar and contributes valuable funds to much needed research.

View images from the day

This year saw a record number of support and sponsorship, and thanks go from the organising committee to:

Major sponsors

One Stop, All Lift Forklifts & Access Equipment, DP World, Linde Materials, and Qube Logistics

Breakfast sponsor

Triton International Aust

Drinks cart sponsors

Boluda Towage

Lunch Refreshment Sponsor

Svitzer

Hole In One Sponsor

United Rentals Aust

Hole Sponsors

Antares Marine, Asiaworld Shipping Services, Cummins South Pacific, Daily Cargo News, Hapag Lloyd (Australia), Integra Technical Services, JPC Reefers, Maersk, MGL Logistics, Norton Wilson Lawyers, Seaway Logistics.

Donations

AAT, Back Vintage Wines, Boluda Towage Daily Cargo News, Drummond Golf / Big Swing Dee Why, Globelink International, Helping Hand, Linde Material Handling, Long Reef Golf Club and United Rentals Aust. The Shipping and Logistics Charity Golf Day committee and The Kids Cancer Project sincerely thanks all players, sponsors, donors and supporters for helping the industry drive closer to the $1 million fundraising milestone in support of childhood cancer research.