Jeans for Genes Day is today, Friday, 4 August 2017, and to help the much-loved national fundraiser go for gold, Olympic swimming champion and official ambassador, Libby Trickett, is calling for all Australians to register for the event and ‘get crazy with denim’, to help Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) discover cures for childhood diseases.
The national denim fundraiser helps find treatments and cures for the one in 20 Australian children with birth defects and diseases such as cancer, epilepsy and other genetic conditions. While the relaxed denim theme is light-hearted and fun, the sad reality is that every year 300 children in Australia lose their lives to childhood disease.
Former gold medalist, Libby Trickett, was inspired to get involved this year after a scare at her 20-week scan with daughter, Poppy. “It was an incredibly scary two weeks while we waited for further results. Luckily we got the all clear, but because of this I wanted to do everything I could to support more research so other families get the opportunity to be happy and healthy.”
Other celebrity supporters joining the movement and encouraging Australians to get denim-crazy include:
Steve ‘Commando’ Willis – Ch10 Former Biggest Loser Trainer
Grant & Chezzi Denyer – Ch10 Family Feud Presenter
Nadia Bartel – Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger
Sophie Falkiner – Ch7 Sydney Weekender Presenter
Jess Yates – Fox Sports Presenter
Jeans for Genes will mark its 24th year of supporting CMRI to research treatments and cures which aim to give children the chance to live a long and healthy life. So far, the iconic fundraiser has raised over $67 million, and currently helps to fund ACRF-ProCan®, a world-first cancer research initiative that will allow doctors to better diagnose their cancer patients within 24-36 hours and determine the most effective treatment for that individual.
ProCan uses specialised equipment that will analyse 70,000 cancer samples from all over the world over the next 5-7 years. This will enable a better understanding of cancer, as well as provide a means of personalised, precision diagnosis and treatment, giving clinicians the tools they need to decide on the best option for each individual patient.
Australians are urged to unite and ‘Join the movement’ to cure childhood genetic diseases by wearing their jeans; the crazier the better, and sharing their outfit on social media with the hashtags #Jointhemovement17 and #JeansForGenesAU. The public can also donate online at www.jeansforgenes.org.au. For more information or to register your support visit jeansforgenes.org.au.
