We felt this was necessary, in order to match the world class cancer services now available for adults.

I am delighted to report that we have come a long way towards achieving this goal.

I quote from a letter written by Professor Glenn Marshall, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

In part, Professor Marshall said: "While the number of children diagnosed with cancer being treated at Campbelltown Hospital are small in number, they require large amounts of resources.

This is because the cure rate for these children has climbed dramatically so that now 80 per cent of children diagnosed with cancer will be cured of their disease. Unfortunately, the treatment, which includes chemotherapy and sometimes surgery and radiation therapy, is long and arduous for the child and their families.

It involves specialty nursing care, and in this regard, the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Services (PACS) provided by the Department of Paediatrics at the Campbelltown Hospital is a shining example of how this sort of care can be delivered in the community.

We would strongly support your efforts to raise money to train nursing staff and to refurbish and fit out an oncology room in the PACS centre.”

In light of this high level support, the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur Committee has approved

the expenditure of $42,500 for the training of the specialist nursing staff identified by Professor Marshall as

crucial to our goal of treating more children with cancer locally.

Our hope is that we can help reduce some of the travel and financial burden on families at this difficult time.

I extend my congratulations to every person involved in the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur.

You can be very proud of your efforts to support people of all ages with cancer in our local area.

I look forward to an even better year in 2008

Sincerely, Councillor Fred Borg