Hugo Charitable Trust supports cancer research with $300,000

Hugo Charitable Trust supports cancer research with $300,000 donation

A $300,000 donation is helping the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute work on less-invasive ways to treat cancer. Hugo Charitable Trust donated the sum after hearing about the GMRI’s cutting-edge research and trial.

Hugo was established in 2017 by Maryanne Green, the eldest daughter of late philanthropist Hugh Green. One of the charity’s aims is to ‘add value with new ways, new ideas, and new directions’. This makes it a perfect match with the GMRI, which is researching new ways to treat cancer instead of relying on what’s been done for the last 100 years.

The GMRI, led by Executive Director Swee Tan, is currently trialling a novel cancer treatment for glioblastoma, a devastating brain cancer. The treatment consists of a blend of commonly used medications instead of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. If successful, this approach could transform the way cancer is treated, improving quality of life for patients and potentially prolonging their life.

The GMRI team is thrilled with Hugo’s generous donation of $300,000.

‘We are very grateful for Hugo’s commitment and sincerely thank all of the people involved for their support,’ says Dr Tan.

Hugo Charitable Trust

Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

Hugo makes donations to organisations who are a ‘good fit’

Julia Hunter, donations manager at Hugo, says it’s always important to look at whether an organisation they’re considering donating to is a good fit for the trust’s charitable purposes. The team at Hugo research each organisation, but there’s nothing like meeting face to face and getting to know each other.

‘After spending a few hours with someone, you get a feel for the commitment and passion that you’re looking for,’ Julia says.

And that’s exactly what happened when the Hugo team visited the GMRI’s Wellington-based lab. After hearing what the team at the GMRI is working on, what their goals are, which journals they’ve been publishing in, and which conferences they’ve been presenting at, the Hugo team was sold.

A charity in memory of a generous man

The Hugo Charitable Trust is named after Hugh Green, an Irishman who built a successful Kiwi career in farming, civil construction, and property development. Hugh was also a philanthropist for much of his life. He started donating to worthy causes over 50 years ago, spurred by memories of the poverty of his childhood in Ireland.

‘When I was young, if you had a good pair of boots, and a good pair of socks, and a feed, that was it … there’d be no such thing as pyjamas, or toothpaste, or any of that jazz … you had just nothing.’

Hugo Charitable Trust was established by Maryanne Green, Hugh’s eldest daughter, in memory of her late father. The pair worked side by side for 25 years, in both business and philanthropy, and developed their values and areas of interest together. Now, continuing that legacy, Hugo donates to a wide range of causes, including education, social assistance programmes, and medical research.

In its first year of giving, Hugo donated over $3 million to 72 New Zealand charities. Around half of this total went to medical research.

More about Hugo Charitable Trust

Hugo is always on the lookout for good causes to support.

Hugo Charitable Trust

More about the GMRI

The GMRI is always looking for philanthropic, corporate, and other donations to continue its important work.

Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

© Scoop Media