1st Group, owners of My Health1st, has partnered with Cure Cancer to raise awareness of cancer and raise money for cancer research.
Cancer has impacted the lives of many Australians. Around 150,000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year alone,1 and along with New Zealand, Australia has the highest incidences of cancer in the world.2
Our partnership with 1st Group will provide us with a fantastic platform to connect and educate consumers on cancer and the importance of funding innovative research
CEO & Co-Founder, Klaus Bartosch of 1st Group, like many Australians, has his own experience cancer.
“In 2011 I started MyHealth1st and started a cycling team called the Vision Crusaders to raise money for cancer research after having suffered a serious melanoma in 2000. In 2013, just a few years later the Vision Crusaders set out on six 200km Conquer Cancer rides across Australia and New Zealand. A week before I was due in Sydney for my second ride the arthritis in my right knee was getting much worse. My wife encouraged me to book an appointment online on MyHealth1st to see our GP about it. It’s lucky she did. Subsequent blood tests revealed I had a rare form of leukaemia and was immediately hospitalised. If I hadn’t been diagnosed, I would likely have died on the ride in Sydney. My team the Vision Crusaders have since raised AU$1.6m for cancer research.”
“Thanks to Australia’s great cancer researchers and specialists, and the ability to book an appointment with my GP when I needed to, I’m now cured and cancer free. That’s why I’m so excited that we are partnering with Cure Cancer. Improving the health of Australians by helping them get the care they need, when they need it is why we started Myhealth1st.com.au. My own platform saved my life. Raising awareness of cancer, helping people to see their GP for early detection and raising funds that support cancer research is therefore at the core of our purpose.”
In this first phase of the partnership, the team at Cure Cancer will provide the MyHealth1st Health Hub with a patient facing library of health-related content. This material will include profiles of cancer researchers, information on different forms of cancer, survivor stories and more. The initial educational material is being released in October 2020, to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Nikki Kinloch, Cure Cancer CEO sees great value in the partnership saying, “An estimated 145,483 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Australia this year alone. It’s a concerning number, but thanks to the great work that early-career cancer researchers do, the levels of early detection have increased, and the development of better treatments have increased the lifespan of people living with cancer. Platforms such as MyHealth1st, which enables patients to take immediate action to make an appointment to see a GP any of day or night, assist with our overall goal of seeing survival rates improving.
“Cure Cancer is dedicated to funding ground-breaking research which has the potential to save countless lives. Our partnership with 1st Group will provide us with a fantastic platform to connect and educate consumers on cancer and the importance of funding innovative research, and importantly facilitate them to take action by booking an appointment to see a GP.
“By coming together to support the work of our talented young cancer researchers, our hope is that we will one day live in a world where cancer no longer poses a threat.”
Reference
1. www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/what-is-cancer/facts-and-figures
2. www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/data-cancer-frequency-country
