For the last 20 years, the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Sydney have hung up their lab coats, left their labs, and joined together to eat cake – for a very important reason. They know more than anyone else why Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is so vital.

“Cancer Council NSW has generously funded the Cancer Research Unit at CMRI continuously for 30 years,’’ according to CMRI Director, Professor Roger Reddel, who is also a cancer researcher. “Cancer is a very complicated problem, but it will be solved. Funding from Cancer Council NSW means we will find those solutions and prevent the suffering of countless cancer patients sooner than would otherwise have been possible.’’

Scientists are not guaranteed any funding for research, so receiving grants from Cancer Council NSW has made them so grateful that they have decided to take part in the Biggest Morning Tea to show their appreciation and “give something back’’.

Every May, CMRI chooses a different theme, such as The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and everyone dresses up, enjoys morning tea, and takes part in fundraising. Over the past 10 years they have raised more than $30,000.

CMRI’s Community Relations Manager, Jennifer Philps, is the organiser of the event and believes it is vital that the scientists understand where their grants come from.

“It is important to continue to give our researchers a sense of giving rather than just receiving, but more importantly it gathers us all together for a common goal and to enjoy each other’s company,’’ Mrs Philps said. “We have so many scientists from overseas who are unfamiliar with how Australians support charities, and they just love it.’’

Cancer Council NSW’s Community Relations Coordinator, Danielle Sammut says, “We’re incredibly grateful for CMRI’s support of our Biggest Morning Tea campaign. Their donations fund our life-saving research, prevention programs, and information and support services. Every dollar raised helps support those impacted by cancer.

Professor Reddel said, in the past 30 years, Cancer Council NSW has helped CMRI researchers make many discoveries about cancer, including through its ProCan project which aims to increase the ability of cancer clinicians to choose the most effective treatment for individual patients.

“Over a two-year period very recently, Cancer Council NSW generously funded software engineers and data scientists at ProCan to set up the digital infrastructure that makes it possible to analyse the large quantities of cancer protein data ProCan is producing, and to work on it with collaborating researchers in Australia and elsewhere in the world.

The ProCan program is endeavouring to provide answers regarding all types of cancer, so CMRI researchers particularly appreciate Cancer Council NSW's support for this far-reaching work.’’