McGrath Foundation
Encyclopedia
The McGrath Foundation is a breast cancer
support and education charity
in Australia
, funding McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia as well as educating young women to be breast-aware. The charity was originally founded by Australian cricket player, Glenn McGrath
, and his English wife, Jane McGrath
, in 2002, following Jane’s initial diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer. Jane died on 22 June 2008 at the age of 42.
in 1997. Since then over 900 nurses have been trained as Breast Care Nurses .
Following her treatment for secondary cancer in 2003, Jane had access to a breast care nurse for the first time and became aware of the impact that they can have on a patient’s physical and mental wellbeing during and after treatment.
This experience led to the development of the Foundation’s two main aims. Jane believed that every woman diagnosed with breast cancer and her family should have access to a breast care nurse, thus one of the main objectives of the Foundation is to fund in communities across Australia.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses are specially trained nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women experiencing breast cancer, their families and their carers. Since 2003, the McGrath Foundation has worked with the community across Australia to assess which areas are in most need of the support of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse. As of October 2011 the McGrath Foundation funds over 60 nurses around Australia.
Currently, 87% of all McGrath Breast Care Nurses are in rural and regional areas.
As of June 2010, the 55 McGrath Breast Care Nurses had supported over 4,500 newly diagnosed Australian families through their breast cancer experience in communities across Australia. Over 3,000 of these families have been supported in the past year and there are now McGrath Breast Care Nurses in every State and Territory across Australia.
People experiencing breast cancer can self refer to their nearest McGrath Breast Care Nurse, whose support is then provided completely free of charge. The McGrath Foundation needs to raise approximately $350,000 to place each McGrath Breast Care Nurse in the community for a three year period.
In 2008, the Australian Government pledged $12 million to the McGrath Foundation to fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses in 44 communities for the next three years.
To encourage Australian women to become breast aware, the McGrath Foundation has developed a Breast Awareness card.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
support and education charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, funding McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia as well as educating young women to be breast-aware. The charity was originally founded by Australian cricket player, Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...
, and his English wife, Jane McGrath
Jane McGrath
Jane Louise McGrath AM was a British-born Australian cancer support campaigner, and the wife of Australian cricket fast bowler Glenn McGrath.-Background:...
, in 2002, following Jane’s initial diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer. Jane died on 22 June 2008 at the age of 42.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses
The formal training of dedicated breast care nurses was pioneered by LaTrobe University in partnership with Cancer Council VictoriaCancer Council Victoria
Cancer Council Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to reduce the impact of cancer in Victoria. It is an independent body that advises various groups, including government, on cancer-related issues....
in 1997. Since then over 900 nurses have been trained as Breast Care Nurses .
Following her treatment for secondary cancer in 2003, Jane had access to a breast care nurse for the first time and became aware of the impact that they can have on a patient’s physical and mental wellbeing during and after treatment.
This experience led to the development of the Foundation’s two main aims. Jane believed that every woman diagnosed with breast cancer and her family should have access to a breast care nurse, thus one of the main objectives of the Foundation is to fund in communities across Australia.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses are specially trained nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women experiencing breast cancer, their families and their carers. Since 2003, the McGrath Foundation has worked with the community across Australia to assess which areas are in most need of the support of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse. As of October 2011 the McGrath Foundation funds over 60 nurses around Australia.
Currently, 87% of all McGrath Breast Care Nurses are in rural and regional areas.
As of June 2010, the 55 McGrath Breast Care Nurses had supported over 4,500 newly diagnosed Australian families through their breast cancer experience in communities across Australia. Over 3,000 of these families have been supported in the past year and there are now McGrath Breast Care Nurses in every State and Territory across Australia.
People experiencing breast cancer can self refer to their nearest McGrath Breast Care Nurse, whose support is then provided completely free of charge. The McGrath Foundation needs to raise approximately $350,000 to place each McGrath Breast Care Nurse in the community for a three year period.
In 2008, the Australian Government pledged $12 million to the McGrath Foundation to fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses in 44 communities for the next three years.
Breast awareness
The second aim of the McGrath Foundation is to promote breast awareness in young women. Only 31 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Jane felt passionately about empowering people under 40 to take control of their health by conductive regular breast checks to be breast aware.To encourage Australian women to become breast aware, the McGrath Foundation has developed a Breast Awareness card.