The Mark Grundy Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Group (OCAGI) and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research have joined forces and are calling on the families of the south west community to barrack for cancer research by attending the Family Fun Day fundraiser on May 24.

Activities will include a Pass the Ball competition led by former Cronulla Sharks player Greg Nickson. In addition to food, there will be stalls with gifts and homewares.

Entry is free with activities and rides priced from $2.

It is hoped that through such a fun day at a great location a lot of funds will be raised to fight cancer, which continues to be the leading cause of death in Australia with more than 43,200 people estimated to have died from it in 2011.

The Ingham Institute at Liverpool Hospital is making significant inroads to changing this by conducting a broad portfolio of cancer research projects across many different cancer types including breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic and oesophageal cancer.

Institute Research Director Professor Michael Barton says the local community must support the OCAGI Family Fun Day to raise funds for research projects that are making a difference to patients, carers and their families.

“The focus of cancer research at the Ingham Institute is translational, meaning that results from the laboratory are transferred quickly and efficiently from the bench, to the bedside and right through to the community to improve public health,” Prof Barton said.

“We are leading ground-breaking cancer innovations like the Ingham Institute MRI-Linac cancer research program which will launch at the end of the year. One of only three in the world, the MRI-Linac will combine an MRI scanner with a Linear Accelerator to improve the accuracy and precision of radiotherapy treatment for cancer,” he said.

Fellow event organiser and Director of OCAGI Polly Grundy decided to hold the event to raise funds for South Western Sydney cancer awareness group OCAGI. Ms Grundy began OCAGI after her late husband Mark tragically died of oesophageal cancer in 2012 at the age of 49.

We need to raise funds to bring cancer more to the forefront as a national health priority and raise funds for research, awareness and support to turn around current statistics and, in time, find a cure for this dreadful disease.”

Interview with Ingham Institute Community Relationships Manager Tracey Roberts: