Here’s cheers to FECRI’s fundraiser

THE Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute’s auction of Australian wines is currently underway, and all money raised is set to go towards the organisation’s local non-government funded initiatives.

Winemakers from Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, and Western Australia – including Mitchell Harris Wines’ John Harris and Redman Wines’ Daniel Redman – have contributed to FECRI’s second annual wine auction.

Mr Harris produces his wines locally with vineyards in Moonambel, Invermay, and the Macedon Ranges.

“We’re happy to be able to contribute to this online event and support the great work being done by the Institute in regional Victoria,” he said.

Further afield in the Coonawarra region of South Australia, Mr Redman said backing Ballarat’s preeminent independent cancer research organisation was at the heart of his contribution to the cause.

“It’s important to us here at Redman Wines to help FECRI continue their experiments during these unprecedented times,” he said.

“Given the success of the auction last year, and the uncertainty the coronavirus brings with their fundraising, this is one way we can all get behind the Institute.”

FECRI director Professor George Kannourakis said he was grateful to the “incredibly generous winemakers” and collectors involved in this year’s auction.

“They’re enabling us to raise money to keep our research program on track,” he said.

“Cancer is not elective, and our research continues during this time, with ongoing community support.

“We hope the community enjoys participating in something a bit different. We hope our supporters enjoy the impressive collection gathered together to make available to bid.”

Visit fecri.org.au between now and Monday, 2 August to make a bid.

Successful bidders will be over the age of 18. Those within 20 kilometres of Ballarat will receive free delivery, otherwise wines can be posted, or collected by appointment.

Eight Federation University PhD students are currently based at FECRI, working alongside its 14 senior scientific staff.

The Institute’s recent successes are wide and many.

They include identifying a new way to isolate viruses, potential ovarian cancer immunotherapy targets, bowel wall immune cells that release chemical messengers and encourage bowel cancer, and a new histiocytic disorder immune cell subset, while continuing to study cancers including leukaemia.