Have you always wanted to make a difference in the world? Now is your chance.  On Friday 7 August we need your help to get Australians dressed in denim and raise a few dollars for ‘Jeans for Genes Day’ to help enable the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) to continue their life-changing work.

Hunter New England Health Genetic Counsellor Bruce Hopper said the Area Health Service will be hosting a stall in Taree City Centre to help raise awareness about genetic disorders.

“Genetic disorders include inherited conditions as well as those caused by gene changes that start with a particular individual.”

“People’s anxiety about their family history can be reviewed by their GP and our genetic counselling service. Often an individual’s anxiety about their family history can be put into perspective by discussing the condition and their experience with it,” Mr Hopper said.

Genetic counselling is available to assist individuals and families to comprehend the medical facts surrounding a disorder, understand the inheritance, consider options available, decide on an appropriate course of action, and learn various ways to best adjust.

Attending genetic counselling can help address any anxiety experienced by a family when coming to terms with understanding a genetic disorder and/or its implications. 

“Often people just want to know exactly what a diagnosis actually means. They want to know ‘how did it happen’, ‘what are the implications?’ and ‘what is the chance that it could happen again if we have another child?’ and ‘what about other family members?’”

Where a genetic disorder is identified, it is also very important that families are aware of the kinds of support that can be provided. After diagnosis, referrals are made to other medical specialists, social services, and special education and support groups when appropriate.

Funds raised from ‘Jeans for Genes Day’ have contributed towards research that paves the way for better treatments and even cures for common and rare genetic disorders.

Recent scientific results announced by CMRI are tipped to advance the entire approach to anti-cancer treatments. This research identified the composition of human telomerase, an enzyme integral to 85 per cent of all cancers. The work was made possible through the use of an expensive state-of-the-art machine, a mass spectrometer, which was purchased with money raised from ‘Jeans for Genes Day.’

Students from Taree High School will also be selling badges in the streets on 7 August. Many organisations, including Manning Hospital and local community health centres are encouraging their staff to wear jeans for the day and to wear a badge to support the cause.

Contact: Tanya Carlyle, Communication Officer

Phone: (02) 49 392 602