QLD ICT EXECUTIVES VOLUNTEER TIME – AND HAIR – FOR CHARITY

High profile Queensland Information and Communications Technology (ICT) executives bared their heads in Brisbane today to support the Leukaemia Foundation’s ‘World’s Greatest Shave – ICT Challenge’.

Minister for State Development John Mickel, who launched the shave at Mincom Central, said eight prominent ICT executives from companies including Telstra, IBM, Microsoft and Vodafone, volunteered their time – and hair – to lead the ICT industry in support of this worthwhile cause.

“Last year, the Leukaemia Foundation estimated up to 25 Australians were diagnosed with leukaemias, lymphomas, myelomas and blood-related disorders each day,” Mr Mickel said.

“But thanks to research and better treatments, seven in ten children and three in ten adults survive acute leukaemia.”

Mr Mickel said support for medical research was the cornerstone of vital medical discovery, finding cures and improved treatments for leukaemia, cancers and a range of medical conditions that affect Queenslanders every day.

“The Leukaemia Foundation devotes a significant amount of its funding to research,” he said.

“And with the incidence of lymphomas on the rise – expected to increase by up to 30.5 per cent between 2002 and 2011 – the work of the Foundation will become more valuable than ever in the coming years.

“But it’s not all about research – it’s also about quality of life. The foundation invests a lot of time and money into helping to improve the lives of patients and their families living with blood-related disorders.”

Mr Mickel said Queensland was at the forefront of haematology research, through the work of facilities such as the Leukaemia Foundation Research Unit, located at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

“The unit was founded in 1992 and is led by the internationally renowned leader of experimental haematology, Professor Andrew Boyd,” he said.

“And the Queensland Government has invested more than $515 million in health and medical research since 1998.”

Mr Mickel said Queensland was entering a new era of high-tech healthcare and the ICT industry had become a vital part of the future of medical research and healthcare in the State.

“As long as technology keeps changing, we need to stay on top of what’s available and what’s being developed, to ensure that we are providing the best possible service to those who need it,” he said.

“The bar has been set and I challenge the ICT industry to follow Mincom’s lead and get behind the ICT challenge.

“Mincom, has donated $1.5 million to the Leukaemia Foundation – the largest single donation ever made to the Foundation.

“In addition, Mincom has provided the Foundation with office space at Mincom Central for the next ten years.

“The Leukaemia Foundation hopes to raise $2.6 million in Queensland this year – so let’s show them we’re up to the challenge.

“Be ‘brave and shave’ and together, let’s help save lives.”

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Media contact: Elouise Campion 3224 6784.

27 March, 2007