Hello there,

THANK YOU so much for visiting this page.

I can hardly believe I signed up……….. 

I know this is really going to challenge me, maybe its the hardest physical challenge I have ever undertaken, but it means a lot to me.

Since joining the RHHRF Board I have learnt a lot about the funded research of the Foundation and how it helps families who suffer debilitating disease and the heartache it causes for all involved.

I have some understanding of the pain of those families .

I am treking Kokoda to honour my beloved darling grandsons Oscar and Archie Taylor who were taken from us as young children suffering from a rare immune system disease hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). HLH means T and NK cells don’t work properly . These cells become overactive and begin damaging the patients own organs.

 Oscar was a gorgeous, gentle little boy about to celebrate his first birthday when he fell ill and rapidly declined , his little organs shutting down. His sudden death devastating my son Matthew his wife Peta, all of our family - with little explanation of what had happened to their beautiful little boy.

Three years later , Archie was a healthy and happy 18 month old when he suddenly fell ill. He endured so much over the next 12 months  while in hospital and  had a number of treatments including a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. He was so brave and tried so hard but the battle was too big for a little boy to beat. His parents were by his side in hospital  constantly for all his battles and the fun times as well!

 The heartache of loss does not subside with time. I feel the pain of the loss Oscar and Archie every day  and they will always be loved members of our family .

I decided to take the challenge of Kokoda to raise money thinking of them and to assist other families in the hope that they may be spared such heartache because of better life saving medical research.

We will be trekking Kokoda on Anzac Day 2020 and during the dawn service I will be thinking of Oscar and Archie and my wonderful dad who gave us so much during his life . I grew up knowing the story he told us of the young Australians and their heroism as he was a young sailors on one of the first Corvettes into PNG to pick up survivors from the Track. He never forgot their sacrifice and heroism.

Research is at the heart of improving the quality of life for generations of Tasmanians and with your support we can raise the funds to ensure we improve the lives of all Tasmanians.

Thank you for your help Therese

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation. Thanks so much for your support!

Help us fund local medical research – for Tasmanians, by Tasmanians.

Every year, the RHH Research Foundation receives many more applications from clinical researchers than it can support. Each of these applications has the potential to produce ground-breaking, even life-saving medical discoveries.

With your help, we can fund three year-long Project Grants by raising $75,000 through the Trek for Research. The money you raise will support these research projects and could be part of funding a medical breakthrough.

“The Trek for Medical Research will make an immense difference to our capacity to support the health and wellbeing of our Tasmanian community. The Trek has the potential to not only continue to increase funding, but to build crucial awareness around the vital work of the Foundation. This enables us to do even more to support future generations and continue to invest into local medical research associated with the diseases and disorders that impact people across our state.”

- RHH Research Foundation CEO Heather Francis

The Kokoda Track was the scene of bitter fighting when the Australian Army fought to defend Port Moresby from advancing Japanese forces in 1942. Today, walking that same track has become an iconic pilgrimage for those wanting to honour the ANZAC spirit. The Trek for Medical Research will take place over ANZAC Day 2020 as a special commemoration of the historic events.

Regarded as one of the world’s greatest treks, the Kokoda Track links the south and north coast of Papua New Guinea across 96 kilometres of rocky mountain terrain, tropical rainforest and remote villages.

On this adventure, you’ll lace up your boots to trek alongside RHH Research Foundation supporters to raise funds to invest in vital medical research, for Tasmanian locals, by Tasmanian locals.

By day, you’ll trek Papua New Guinea’s tropical rainforest, the terrain as challenging as it is beautiful. As nightfall descends, you will stay in isolated camps, swapping stories with local Koiari and Orokaiva people and falling asleep to the nocturnal sounds of the jungle.

Though the Track is challenging, you’ll be rewarded with an unmatched sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that YOU have made a huge difference to Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation and helped fund the next potential medical breakthrough.

FIND OUT MORE HERE