Raine & Horne joins fight against childhood cancer

Raine & Hornes joines fight against childhood cancer

MEDIA RELEASE  - Wednesday 25th of August, 2010

Oncology Children’s Foundation ambassador and West Tigers legend Benji Marshall joined Raine & Horne CEO Angus Raine, in launching an exciting new paediatric cancer research scholarship at Rozelle Public School on Wed 25th August 2010.

The leading property group has established the Raine & Horne Col Reynolds Postgraduate Scholarship in Paediatric Cancer Research, which is a postgraduate research sponsorship worth $32,000.

OCF is a successful Australian charity dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancers and each Raine & Horne office in the Inner West has donated a minimum $2,000 to this worthy cause.

The scholarship, which is named after the founder of the OCF Col Reynolds, will be awarded to an outstanding young researcher in Australia who is committed to finding cures for the cancers that affect children.

Other dignitaries included OCF Founder Col Reynolds and Ross Lewis OCF CEO, while two classes of eager students from Rozelle Public also made their presence felt.

Addressing a phalanx of Sydney’s sporting media, Mr Raine said, “The OCF does not receive government funding, so the scholarship will help finance an outstanding young researcher in Australia who is committed to finding cures for the cancers that affect children.”

League superstar Benji Marshall who lost his father, grandmother and other members of his extended family to the insidious disease, said, “I know what a lot of families have been through. It means a lot to be an ambassador for this cause.”

“I’d like to thank Raine & Horne Inner West for its support. Without the support of businesses such as Raine & Horne, the [scholarship] wouldn’t have been possible.”

The West Tigers flyer also took the opportunity to launch the Benji Marshall Foundation and confirmed all profits will be donated to the Oncology Children’s Foundation.

Recently, Marshall famously met young Lleyton Giles, who has a terminal liver condition at the recent West Tigers and Panthers game.

“It’s different to see adults suffer. But to see children who don’t have a chance to live their life, that is so much harder.

“If I can do one thing to help the cause to find a cure for cancer, I feel like I’m doing my job as part of the community and my role as a rugby league role model,” said Marshall.

Marshall, Raine and OCF CEO Ross Lewis then combined to judge a Lego House building competition which was won by two very happy year two students from Rozelle Public.

Col Reynolds is the founder of the Oncology Children’s Foundation. Col, a coach-driver started by taking children from the oncology wards on day-trips and outings. After founding OCF the need for better treatments and cures became increasingly apparent to him and he began with the lofty ambition of raising $1 million for childhood cancer research. To date OCF has contributed more than $10 million to research.

This program will run during Spring from 1st September to 30th November, 2010.

There are 16 Raine & Horne offices in Sydney’s Inner West, each is committed to donating a minimum of $2000 to The Raine & Horne Col Reynolds Postgraduate Scholarship in Paediatric Cancer Research

The offices taking part are:
Annandale, Ashfield , Balmain, Bardwell Park ,Belfield, Burwood, Concord, Drummoyne
Five Dock, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, Strathfield, Summer Hill

Websites: www.ocf.com.au  and  www.rh.com.au

Media Contacts:
Angus Raine, CEO, Raine & Horne
araine@rh.com.au or +61 409 920 697

Kit Bashford, National Marketing & Communication Manager, Raine & Horne
kbashford@rh.com.au or +0438 627 684