2024 closes with best-ever Christmas for a Cure
2024-12-20
The Kids’ Cancer Project was proud to celebrate its most successful Christmas for a Cure event ever in 2024 – raising $630,000 for childhood cancer research thanks to the incredible generosity of attendees, sponsors and donors.
Held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in front of more than 530 guests, the annual event was highlighted by incredible talks by speakers Tiana Saunders, a neuroblastoma survivor, and The Kids’ Cancer Project Research Advisory Committee member, Dr. Jordana McLoone, as well as entertainment provided by rising star artist Noah Robertson.
The Kids’ Cancer Project CEO Owen Finegan said he was delighted with the total amount raised on the day and the continued success of the event.
“Christmas for a Cure has evolved from a humble end-of-year lunch to a fully-fledged, 500-person juggernaut, which is fantastic to see,” he said.
“I can’t begin to thank our attendees, sponsors, partners and speakers for their efforts in making 2024 the greatest Christmas for a Cure ever. The funds we have raised will go a long way to helping achieve our dream of no child dying from cancer.”
Channel Nine’s entertainment guru Richard Wilkins co-hosted this year’s event alongside Molly Croft, co-founder of The Tie Dye Project, ambassador for The Kids’ Cancer Project, and osteosarcoma survivor.
Croft, who was nominated for the 2025 Young Australian of the Year Award for her work in cancer research awareness, said the Christmas for a Cure event continued to affirm her belief in the power of community and the impact of sharing her story with people.
A highlight of the event was when both Molly and Tiana spoke together at length of their journeys, talking candidly of their treatment and challenges. Those in the audience were left stunned as the pair showed maturity and strength beyond their years, reflecting on the important role they have now taken in cancer research advocacy and raising awareness for the many Aussie kids affected by childhood cancer.
Tiana’s poem, Just a Word, was auctioned off on the day, with valued partner Smartways purchasing the incredible piece for $5,000 – a poignant reminder of why Smartways drivers deliver The Kids’ Cancer Project bears to children in hospital.
Just a Word details Tiana’s struggle with the enormity of childhood cancer and all that comes with it. It is a brutal yet beautiful sonnet, giving a sense of perspective to the gruelling journey taken on by children forever changed by a chilling diagnosis.
The Kids’ Cancer Project wishes to thank our live auction donors and winners, with a range of prizes raffled off by emphatic auctioneer, Stuart Ritchie.
Our biggest Live Auction prize – a ten-night cruise of Antarctica provided by Trip a Deal – auctioned off for over $35,000, with Trip a Deal CEO Matthew Wolfenden in attendance on the day and generously donating a twin package for a second donor, meaning there was over $70,000 raised on the one prize.
The Kids’ Cancer Project also wishes to thank major donor Mr. P.S. Lee, who once again provided a generous donation at the Christmas for a Cure event with a $100,000 pledge – an incredible gift that will assist in providing for kids with cancer.
The Kids’ Cancer Project founder Col Reynolds OAM was on hand at Royal Randwick, and said he was delighted with the progress and participation of the Christmas for a Cure event.
“A phenomenal day enjoyed by so many to help us realise our dream of no child dying from cancer,” Reynolds said. “Thank you again to all who were in attendance and helped support the work that we are doing, and i hope that you enjoyed it all as much as I did.”
Make sure you keep the calendar free for December 2025 where we’d love to see you again at our annual Christmas for a Cure event!