Cure Kids Urges Support For Red Nose Day Following Health Research Budget Cuts

With New Zealand’s health system under pressure and the science research sector recently facing significant funding cuts, Cure Kids is calling on New Zealanders to support lifesaving child health research this Red Nose Day.

New Zealand researchers warn that these cuts could place further strain on an already pressured health system, risking skilled researchers moving overseas, leaving child health research and other critical areas underfunded and at risk.

“Research is critical to our health system preforming better and delivering high-quality care” says Professor Stuart Dalziel, Cure Kids Chair of Child Health Research, at the University of Auckland and a Paediatric Emergency Specialist.

“New Zealand has world-leading paediatric researchers, whose research, funded by Cure Kids, makes a real difference to thousands of children each year and provides economic return for the community. For example, every $1 invested by Cure Kids in cot death research resulted in a $12 return to the community, in addition to the many hundreds of lives saved.”

“Our tamariki are our most precious taonga. We need to strive as a country to ensure they reach their maximum health.”

Amid this climate, Cure Kids has re-opened its annual funding round to support high-impact research projects tackling New Zealand’s most urgent child healthissues. Last year, this enabled a wide range of research – from improving surgical outcomes for rheumatic heart disease, to tackling youth mental health and addiction through more accessible services.

“Cure Kids remains committed to backing researchers who are pushing boundaries and tackling the biggest challenges facing our tamariki,” says Cure Kids CEO, Frances Soutter.

“Securing donations in this economic climate is challenging, but we continue to fund child health research to ensure bold ideas with the potential to save lives don’t fall through the cracks. Every dollar raised this Red Nose Day helps fund New Zealand research so breakthroughs in child health can happen.”

As New Zealand’s largest charitable funder of child health research, Cure Kids is currently funding 40 research projects across Aotearoa, including a new drug that could reduce disability in newborns who suffer oxygen deprivation at birth, and a first of its kind national study into autism prevalence and healthcare access.

The long-term impact of Cure Kids funded research is evident in a 2018 project led by neonatologist Dr Max Berry, which has helped transform care for extremely premature babies. Her findings showed that babies born as early as 23 or 24 weeks, once considered the edge of viability, can survive and go on to lead healthy lives. The study has since informed clinical practice nationwide and improved outcomes for hundreds of New Zealand’s most vulnerable babies.

But Soutter says this progress is only possible with consistent support from generous donors.

“Throughout our 54-year history, we’ve seen thousands of children’s lives saved, extended or improved thanks to the research we help fund. None of that can happen without the generosity from New Zealanders.”

“Cure Kids funding plays a critical role in ensuring we can keep advancing treatments for conditions like childhood cancers, asthma, and other life-threatening paediatric conditions.”

For families like the Holecliffes, Cure Kids has been lifechanging.

When their daughter Lucca was just 16 months old, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, Epithelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma. With limited global cases and no standard treatment plan, her prognosis was uncertain.

Following urgent surgery, Lucca was introduced to oncologist Dr Andy Wood, whose return to New Zealand was made possible thanks to Cure Kids. Dr Wood recommended a pioneering treatment that helped shrink the tumour and avoid the harsher side effects of traditional chemotherapy.

“Without Cure Kids backing Andy’s research, Lucca wouldn’t be here today,” says mum, Jordanna Holecliffe. “They gave us hope at the worst time in our lives.”

Now 10, Lucca is thriving and proudly serves as a Cure Kids ambassador. She and her family are dedicated to helping others by encouraging New Zealanders to get behind Red Nose Day this year.

Red Nose Day takes place on Friday, 25 July, with fundraising events happening across the country. You can donate online, or at Briscoes and Rebel Sport stores nation wide.

Every dollar raised goes directly to child health researchers working on projects that make a tangible difference in the lives of Kiwi kids.

About Cure Kids

Cure Kids is New Zealand’s largest charitable funder of child health research. Over its 54 year history, it has invested more than $70 million into projects that aim to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of serious health conditions affecting children. Cure Kids is currently supporting around $12 million in research across 40 projects. Learn more at www.curekids.org.nz

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