This fund has been established in honour of Rebecca Gumley to support research that will save and improve the lives of people affected by blood cancer.
Rebecca was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at just 27 years of age. She fought courageously against this disease and managed to enter remission following a stem cell transplant she received from a selfless, unknown international donor. Sadly, significant challenges followed her transplant resulting in her developing a condition known as Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) that ended her life two weeks before her 29th birthday. This disease attacked her skin, eyes, lungs, liver and stomach, depleting her immune system and leaving Rebecca unable to fight serious infections that eventually overwhelmed her body.
Rebecca’s strength during her treatment was inspirational as she constantly strived to find ways to promote awareness of leukaemia treatment, GvHD and blood donation to help others just like her. This awareness created numerous blood drives that introduced new blood and stem cell donors to the Australian register and raised vital funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. Rebecca also underwent numerous clinical trials to help medical professionals develop new blood cancer treatment to benefit future individuals and families.
To honour Rebecca’s enduring strength, loving heart and passion for change, her family and friends have come together to fund breakthrough research into blood cancers to help those individuals and families facing this disease today. Funds raised will be directed to the Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapy, bringing together Australia’s best clinicians and researchers in this field to improve outcomes for people living with blood cancer.
With your support, this memorial fund will ensure advances in research can continue well into the future.
Graft versus Host Disease
Graft versus Host Disease affects more than half of patients who undergo stem cell transplantation. It occurs when donated cells (the graft) see your body cells (the host) as foreign, and attack them.
GvHD is not rare
50% - 70%
of patients develop GvHD
It can be fatal
20%
develop severe acute GvHD resulting in more than half of those people dying.
Debilitating and life threatening
Attacks the skin, digestive system, liver, lungs, connective tissues and eyes, often leading to irreversible damage and life-long symptoms.
Current treatments and understanding are failing patients
In Australia, treatment of GvHD is currently based on steroid administration, and while many other approaches, including additional immune suppressants are commonly employed, none have clearly proven effective. Unanswered questions remain that could provide the solution such as can we halt the disease early on? Are there ways to predict which treatments will work best? Why do the effects vary between patients? Can we modify donor cells pre-transplant to improve outcomes? Can we harness the immune system to conquer GvHD?
There is a pressing need for new treatment approaches to both prevent and especially, to treat GvHD.
Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapy Research
This is a major Australia-wide and international research program which aims to change clinical practice for people dealing with Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) as a consequence of treatment of their blood cancer.
The Leukaemia Foundation is the only non-government organisation supporting this 5 year NHMRC endorsed Centre.
The Centre aims to discover biomarkers that will have diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive power to prevent and treat the disease. It will also explore the use of nenovel agents such as CAR T Cell, immunomodulatory and immunotherapy agents, genetically modified T cells to reduce cancer relapse and improve patient survival.
The Centre’s major research and trials will be conducted in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (RBWH, Westmead, RMH, The Alfred) with involvement from the stem cell transplant units in Adelaide and Perth. The Centre’s scientific partners are QIMR, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Monash University and international centres- the University of Minnesota and Icahn Centre for Science and Medicine at Mt Sinai in New York.
To ensure patients have equitable access to the research and trials conducted by the Centre, the Leukaemia Foundation are also providing funding for eligible patients for their transport and accommodation needs.
A big thank you to our Supporters
The real heroes who are kindly helping us achieve our goal
Peachi & Co. - Bootcamp For Blood Cancer
$20.02k
Stacey Mcardle
Bec was an inspiration x
$127
Karen Webster
$53
Peachi Pt
'22 & '23 Bootcamp for Blood Cancer donation from the Peachi community xx
$10.62k
Todd Robson
$120
Matthew Mott
$211
Anonymous
Beards for Bec
$127
Justin Cudmore
$127
Phil
$160
Joanne Kohler
$127
Stephen & Sandra Gumley
$16.15k
Stephen & Sandra Gumley
$15k
Stephen & Sandra Gumley
$18.85k
Anonymous
$127
Alex Meakins
$120
James Britton
$120
Thomas Gibson
$127
Jesse Wood
$127
Monique Turton - 4sqn
$150
Dylan Thomas Bruce
$127
John Greig
$240
Drew Hender
$127
Anonymous
$120
Daniel C
$127
Aaron Williams
Beards for Bec
$127
Matt Broken-brow
$158
Ian Decarlo
For 4SQN...
$158
Alan
$127
Barney
$127
Anonymous
Happy birthday Bec, we miss you x
$127
Kim & The Peachi Pt Family
In honour of you, Boo, funds from our Bootcamp for Blood Cancer. Bring on the fundraising for 2022 :-)
$6k
Margie Quinn
$125
John Houghton
$209
Anonymous
$120
Craig Barnes
Beards for Bec - 4sqn
$125
No 79 Squadron - Beards For Bec
$810
Jeremy Hackett
$125
Nemi Varesanovic
$120
Billy Mcloughlin-wilden
$125
Dallas
$130
Robbie Steedman
$120
Matthew Mazzaferri
$42
Duncan Bailey
$125
Anonymous
$209
Connor Bailey
$40
Paul Wutzke - 4 Sqn
$200
Az Beards 4 Bec
$120
Matthew Mckeon
$120
Jesse Wood
$125
Anonymous
$42
Nick Willers
$104
David Fileman
$209
Mike Keaney
Still miss her.
$120
Glenn Stone
$42
Joshua Lee
$40
Brad Burns
$42
Ashley Condon
$40
Michael Garrad
$40
Jason West
$52
Gary Kilday
$125
Paul Wojo
$104
Damien Fernandes
$42
Marc Rodriguez
$42
Andrew Kelly
$52
Mark Barak
$52
Soups
$140
Tom Adamson
$125
Phil S
$140
Lulu Sathaar
$125
Hannah M
$125
Adam Edwards
$125
Thomas
$120
Peter Fisher
$52
Ryan Brigden
$40
Paul Goldsmith
Proud to support fellow LOG members past and present, Bec was way too young...
$125
Anonymous
$104
Anonymous
$40
Kyle Buckley
$42
Stu Metcalfe
$50
Adam Bland
$125
Jason De Iuliis
$120
Jason Taghaode
$120
Mario Kondosorov
$120
Karl
$125
Paul Bowes
$125
Zachary Lofthouse
$125
Mike Melia
Beards for Becc
$125
Barney
$125
Nathan Russell
$125
Mitch Henry
$120
James Britton
$120
Richard Kohn
$125
Ian Decarlo
$125
Anonymous
$125
Dylan Bruce
$415
Joanna More
Thrilled to hear more research happening under Rebecca's name
$240
Anonymous
Happy Birthday Bec! We miss you <3
$125
Jonathan And Kaitlin Gumley
$15k
Joel Flannery
$3.48k
Anonymous
$120
Our 6th annual Bootcamp for Blood Cancer, our 1st nation-wide event! Bring on 2025... let's grow this event every year <3 With love from all 8 participating gyms - Peachi PT (Vic), Real Body Movement (QLD), B.U Functional Fitness (NSW), Momentum 360 (NSW), Beyond Limits (WA), Body Blitzer (VIC), Zenith (VIC), Fit Academy (VIC).