04 April 2019

• Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal raises $313,000 to help Cure Cancer
• Money will co-fund a research grant for one of Australia’s brightest emerging cancer researchers
• Appeal has raised more than $1.7 million for charity over seven years

A promising research project that aims to fight melanoma by boosting immune cells has been given a major boost through the Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal.

The 2018 Appeal raised $313,000 for Cure Cancer, a charity which supports early-career researchers working across all areas of cancer research and all cancer types.

The money raised will fund a crucial research project led by Dr Nicolas Jacquelot into melanoma, a skin cancer for which prognosis for patients in the later stages is very poor.

Dr Jacquelot's work will further our understanding of how to boost immune cells, which can help to fight the disease and prevent it from metastasising.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert thanked everyone involved in the six-week fundraising effort. “It’s been humbling to see the airport community and Cure Cancer rally together in support of our best and brightest emerging researchers,” he said.

“This was the second year we’ve partnered with Cure Cancer to support their life-saving efforts and I want to thank everyone across the community whose generosity helped make our 2018 Appeal such a success.

“Dr Jacquelot's research is incredibly important in the fight against melanoma, and we're honoured to have played a role in helping raise vital funds for his work to continue."

Mr Culbert said the amount raised in 2018 was the result of a combined effort from the entire airport community, including passengers, staff, corporate partners, stakeholders and the wider community, who all gave generously.

Cure Cancer CEO Nikki Kinloch also paid tribute to all those who contributed to the Appeal. “We are delighted with the amount raised through our partnership with the Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal,” Ms Kinloch said.

“Thanks to the generosity of all of our supporters, Dr Nicolas Jacquelot will be able to carry out vital, pioneering research into new treatments for melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. “The funds raised through this Appeal have the potential to really make a difference to our mission, which is to make this the last generation to die from cancer.”

“We are so incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”

Currently conducting his research at Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Dr Jacquelot said the support from Cure Cancer and Sydney Airport was vital.

“This grant from Cure Cancer provides me with the opportunity to test my hypotheses, expand my research and create new knowledge about melanoma and successful anti-tumour response,” he said.

“Australia still has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. The results I obtain could ultimately impact clinical practice, leading to better outcomes for patients.”

“I would like to extend my personal thanks to everyone who has contributed to this Appeal. It is only by working together that we can make a lasting difference.”

Sydney Airport’s three partner Rotary clubs – Marrickville, Botany Bay and Rockdale – once again donated their coin collection bins during the six weeks of the appeal, contributing $24,000 to the fundraising total.

Sydney Airport and Cure Cancer thanked the many corporate partners that supported the 2018 appeal, including Airport Link, Virgin Australia, Mace Group, American Airlines, Heinemann, SSP Australia Catering and Lagadere.

The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal is a six-week fundraising and awareness campaign uniting the airport community and travelling public in support of a great cause. The Appeal has raised more than $1.7 million over the past seven years. This year’s appeal featured a bigger-than-ever Sydney Airport Family Fun Runway Run, interactive Selfie Booths in both domestic and international airport terminals, a silent auction, Tap to Donate terminals at participating retailers and Rotary bin and volunteer collections throughout the airport.