Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision announced ‘Maddie’s Month’ and an annual $100,000+ donation from glass-house tomato producer Flavorite Tomatoes to fund critical research into new treatments for Aplastic Anaemia - the Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome that took Maddie Reiwoldt’s life in 2015.
Sales of Flavorite’s Cherry Burst Tomatoes and Vine Ripened Cherry Tomatoes, sold at Coles stores nationally, will fund a research project at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
The research will focus on genome editing of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells aimed at uncovering novel therapeutics for Aplastic Anaemia and other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (BMFS).
The research project, lead by Dr Yih-Chih Chan and Professor Mark Dawson, continues Maddie’s Vision commitment to a greater understanding of, and cure for, Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.
Speaking about the ongoing partnership with Flavorite, Jack Riewoldt, Maddie’s cousin and Maddie’s Vision ambassador, said: “Maddie’s Vision has a single focus – to fund the urgent needs in medical research that will discover improved treatments and a cure for BMFS. Maddie ran out of treatment options and lost her fight. Maddie’s Month, and the support from Flavorite and Coles, provides us with a commitment to help fund important research and ensure others don’t face what Maddie went through.”
Currently BMFS patients have a narrow range of treatment options and an uncertain future. Current therapies are not well tolerated and patients, most often children, teens or young adults, and their families, live months of a very disruptive life; long hospital stays, followed by weekly hospital check ups and managing side effects.
Flavorite co-founder Mark Millis battled a blood cancer and knows from personal experience how critical medical research is to finding better patient outcomes. Millis’ son Chris, Farm Manager, said: “Flavorite is really excited about supporting Maddie’s Vision to make a difference in our understanding of Aplastic Anaemia and Bone Marrow Failure.”
For more information:
Maddie Riewoldt's Vision
Tel: +61 0417 532 930