Home - Cancer in Kids @ RCH - CIKA

CIKA was founded in April 1980 by three families, to increase the
awareness of cancer in children and to encourage financial support to
aid research into children's cancer.

Whats happening @ CIKA

Donvale Neighbourhood Charity Auction. Following the success of the 2011 event this popular fund-raiser will be repeated on Sunday 26th February 2012. Click here for details and to download a flyer.

Herbert Street, Middle Park. Each Christmas the Herbert Street families in Middle Park have a get together to celebrate and enjoy the wonderful friendships that have been established over several years. For the 2011 event they combined fun and fellowship with fundraising for CIKA. Click here to read more.

Cooking for Cash is an annual initiative of a group of year nine students at Methodist Ladies' College in Kew. Meals that they cook in the Home Economics Department are available for purchase by staff during term four. In 2011, inspired by their teacher Debbie Hudson, the girls raised $1,393.90 which will be donated to CIKA. Well done everyone. Read more about MLC's fund-raising efforts by clicking here.

Sally and Joseph raised around five hundred dollars for CIKA during the 2011 annual 100 mile "Tom Quilty Memorial' endurance horse ride. Click here to read more.

The Bessibelle Quilters in the Western District of Victoria are supporting CIKA with the donation of quilts for sale at CIKA functions or as raffle prizes. Quilter, Glenys Sharrock, introduced herself to CIKA President, Sandra Lehrer, during a visit to the Macarthur and District Lions Club Australia Day celebrations in January. Read more by clicking here.

The 16th Old Time Wood Days held on 12th and 13th November was, as always, a great event. The ever-popular calendar sold out even earlier than in previous years, raising $10,000 for CIKA. The event itself raised $23,709.60. CIKA is grateful to the volunteers and supporters who made the weekend such a success and to the generous donors who provided goods. Click here for more.

Ruth Murray's popular Christmas Market Night on Friday 18th November raised over $7,000 for CIKA, and still counting. More details and some photographs soon.

The 2011 Blue and Orange Ball took place on Saturday September 10th when around 300 guests enjoyed a fun-filled evening and helped CIKA raise $107,000. What a fantastic result; congratulations to all concerned. Click here for a brief report and some photograhs.

The 2012 Blue and Orange Ball will take place at the Sebel Hotel Albert Park on Saturday 18 August. Make a note in your diary now!

Details of some of CIKA's other past events are archived on our "Past Events" page which can be reached by clicking here.

This site was last updated on 27 January 2012.

Farewell Denise.

Lead researcher, Denise Caruso, resigned from her post at the Children's cancer Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital on January 3, 2012, to take up the post of Executive Officer of the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

We at CIKA are sorry to see her go but know that she will bring to her new job the same dedication and passion that she displayed at the RCH. It has been great working with you Denise and we will miss you. We will always be indebted to you for the great research that you have undertaken and we wish you all the best. Click here to read Denise's letter to CIKA.

The Macedon Ranges Focus Group completed their bike ride from Warrnambool to Ballarat on 24th November. They are seen here taking a well-deserved rest at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. CIKA is very grateful to this wonderful group of people for their ongoing support in our fight against childhood cancer and their magnificent achievement in raising $7,300.

For a full report and some photographs, click here.

Their Christmas lunch has long been a popular event and a great fund-raiser for CIKA. The 2011 lunch took place on Friday 9th December. Click here for details and photographs.

CIKA's Children

Over 140 children under 15 years of age are diagnosed with cancer each year in Victoria and 90% of these children are treated at the Royal Children's Hospital. The CIKA children have all battled cancer. You can read some of their stories here.

Read stories >>

Thomas Carafa

Current Research

CIKA has actively supported research projects at the Royal Children's Hospital with financial assistance and will continue to do so until childhood cancer is cured.