Former Westmead Hospital patient hosts ball to raise funds for blood cancers
Today, on 23 May 2022, Pauline Fallance is celebrating nine years in cancer remission.
Pauline Fallance credits her survival from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) to the doctors and nurses at Westmead Hospital’s Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Ward C5a.
AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow and is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.
In recognition of her gratitude to the doctors and nurses of Ward C5a, Pauline and her husband Gordon Fallance recently hosted 450 guests at CommBank Stadium at the inaugural Bloody Cells Ball.
The event, which was held on Saturday 30 April 2022, raised $150,000 for Westmead Hospital’s Ward C5a and the Leukemia Foundation to support people with blood cancers.
With the help of family and friends, the Fallance’s hosted an event featuring entertainment by sports television presenter and Master of Ceremonies Tim Gilbert, a special stadium light show, silent and live auctions and live music.
Aussie singing icon Jimmy Barnes also showed his support of the event, delivering a video message to guests saying, “I think it’s fantastic that you’re raising money… Pauline, you’re a legend; you’re tough as nails.”
Representing Ward C5a, Jo-Anne Greaves, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Transfusion Medicine said, “Our haematology unit is a world leader, and C5a is a centre for excellence for blood and marrow transplantation.”
We are one of the only hospitals in Australia that is treating patients with immune effector cells (CAR T-cells), where we can genetically modify the patient’s own immune cells to target their cancer,” said Jo-Anne.
“Our medical team are world leaders in this innovative technology.”
Presenting on behalf of Westmead Hospital Foundation, Board Chair James Nguyen thanked everyone for their support.
“We are delighted to be named as a charity partner along with our friends at the Leukaemia Foundation,” said James.
“It’s great to know that the funds raised will support continuing research into AML and other blood cancers, and medical treatments at Westmead Hospital.”
