It’s been another record breaking Good Friday Appeal, raising $18,200,000 for The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH)!

This was the first time in almost nine decades that the hospital was quiet on Good Friday, and it was the right thing to do.

The final tally was announced last night, following a full day of virtual tin shakes, social media campaigns and an incredible pledge from Premier Daniel Andrews.

RCH CEO John Stanway said it was a bittersweet day, and extended his thanks to everyone who helped raise this amount, despite the hardships many Victorians are facing.

“I’ve heard from the RCH team how humbled they are to see this playing out. The support we have had has been amazing. It genuinely is unexplainable.

“Thank you to our community. Thank you to our Government. Thank you for backing us for 150 years and we promise to be there for you every single day, through thick and thin.

“These are the days which make us proud to be Victorians,” John said.

Below are some of the ways funds from this year’s Appeal will support us to deliver great care at the RCH.

• A new Kidney Flagship is being established at the RCH. Bringing together researchers from the RCH and MCRI, the Kidney Flagship aims to reduce the burden of genetic kidney disease on patients and their families by improving diagnosis and treatment, and the development of new targeted therapies.
• Purchase of new state-of-art pathology equipment
• Upgraded tissue processing technology, meaning more accurate diagnoses and a reduction in the need for unnecessary and painful surgeries
• A new hybrid microscope that features 3D technology will be purchased, assisting the RCH Neurosurgery Department this new microscope will allows our surgeons to identify tumors that are out of the normal field of view.

The Appeal also supports many ongoing services at the RCH including our apheresis service, the Wadja Health Clinic and the Nutrition Services Team.