The Cancer Council Queensland
Overview
The Cancer Council Queensland is Queensland's foremost anti-cancer organisation. It is an independent, community-based charity and is not government funded. The Cancer Council aims to reduce the impact of cancer--particularly the suffering it causes--and ultimately to eliminate the disease, by raising funds to advance cancer research; improve cancer treatment; support people with cancer, their family and friends; and increase community awareness of cancer, its prevention and early detection. The Cancer Council Queensland is a member of The Cancer Council Australia.
The Cancer Council Queensland is the largest non-government provider of cancer research funds in the state. It has a dedicated research centre, the Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, which includes an Epidemiology Unit, a Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, and the Queensland Cancer Registry.
Services
The Fund offers a range of support services to help ease the burden on Queenslanders with cancer and their families. These services are tailored to meet the needs of people with various types of cancer and involve practical assistance such as financial aid, equipment loan and a wig and turban service. The Cancer Council Queensland operates The Cancer Council Helpline to provide information and support at the cost of a local call.
During 2005 The Cancer Council Helpline received calls from more than 50,000 Queenslanders, while the Cancer Counselling Service provided confidential telephone counselling to more than 600 clients. Through the support of the community, the Fund is also able to contribute funding for treatment facilities and equipment across the state, provide accommodation facilities for patients receiving treatment in three cities across the state, and educate the community on the prevention and early detection of cancer.
Fundraising
Because it does not receive government funding, The Cancer Council Queensland receives donations from the Queensland public, through bequests and fundraising events such as Daffodil Day, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea and Relay For Life.
History
The Cancer Council Queensland was established in 1961 as the Queensland Cancer Fund. It's original purpose was to purchase medical equipment for the Queensland Radium Institute, a part of the state health department. On May 1, 2007, the Queensland Cancer Fund was renamed to The Cancer Council Queensland and adopted the daffodil, the international symbol of hope, as its logo. It replaced the caduceus, a staff with an intwined snake, which was its original logo. The name change more closely aligned the organisation with other states and territories of Australia, all of which have an anti-cancer organisation named The Cancer Council, all of which are members of The Cancer Council Australia.