Look what you helped us do
1 September 2020
Tēnā koe
It’s the start of a new season, and soon there’s going to start a big step forward in neuroendocrine cancer treatment in New Zealand. Your support for Jordan’s Shave for NETs has really helped us to make this happen, so I wanted to thank you personally.
One of the key priorities we’ve been working on for some years has been to bring Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) to New Zealand. Patients needing PRRT have had to travel to Melbourne at a cost of around $50,000 per person.
The second wave of COVID-19 in Melbourne in July meant that the Peter MacCallum cancer centre there was no longer able to treat out-of-state patients. Our New Zealand cancer patients were (and still are) desperately worried, as this means they can no longer access life-extending PRRT.
Your generous donation has enabled us to step up our advocacy at this critical time. We’ve met with the Chief Executives of Te Aho o Te Kahu (cancer control agency), Pharmac, and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Auckland District Health board and campaigned for a rapid-response roundtable. As a direct result of our efforts a working group has been set up - spanning government, the private sector, ADHB, clinicians and Unicorn Foundation NZ - that is entirely focused on getting PRRT set up here as quickly as possible. We’re expecting the final stages of this project to be complete this month, in readiness to treat urgent cases very soon.
This is fantastic news, and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without Jordan’s incredible Shave for NETs fundraiser. His initiative, combined with your contribution, has made it possible for us to achieve so much so quickly. We are getting wonderful feedback from patients each week about the progress we’re making towards finally having PRRT in New Zealand. On behalf of them - thank you.
You should feel justifiably proud of the difference you’ve made to the lives of people with NET cancer.
We would love you to keep helping us with our mission. We’re currently looking for keen cyclists (and their supporters!) to build a Unicorn peloton in the Tour of New Zealand fundraiser from 10-17 April next year. It’s an eight day cycle tour through the most majestic scenery the South Island has to offer, suitable for recreational riders as well as racers. If you or anyone you know is keen on cycling, please do let me know on 027 434 0926 or michelle@unicornfoundation.org.nz.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, ēngari he toa takimano e.
Strength is not that of an individual, but of the collective.
Ngā mihi nui
Avril, Lesley, Jess & Michelle - the Unicorn Foundation NZ team.