RCH1000 is a group of like-minded donors committed to supporting ground-breaking research projects at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and campus partners, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics.

Each member makes an annual minimum $1,000 donation to fund vital research projects across the RCH campus. Members are invited to special events and are kept up to date about the transformational impact their support is having on sick children.

If you’re not able to commit to $1,000 annually, any and all donations are always appreciated and will be put towards research at the RCH.

Thank you to our members for your commitment to helping the hospital discover new treatments and cures for childhood illness and disease by supporting ground-breaking research projects across the RCH campus.

Usually at this time of year we are eagerly preparing for our Annual Celebration Dinner. Due to COVID-19 we are unable to come together, however we are still very much committed to showing you just how important your support is and to encourage others to join our wonderful RCH1000 community.

I encourage you to watch the videos below to hear from the team at the RCH about the latest developments in the research projects you generously support. There is also the opportunity to take part in our member’s prize draw.

If like me, you are proud of being part of this unique and impactful giving community, please spread the word by sharing this page with family, friends and colleagues so that we can continue to support research for many years to come.

Thanks to your support of the Harmonising Age Pathology Parameters in Kids (HAPPI Kids) study, thousands of children in Victoria and beyond are benefitting from having their blood results correctly understood according to their age range.

Hear from project lead Professor Paul Monagle and Haematologist Anthea Greenway on why this research is so important.

Professor Paul Monagle is leading a team of researchers working to understand why children are less likely to display signs of COVID-19, and the key is in their blood.

Your generous support has enabled Paul and his team to compare blood samples of adults and children infected with COVID-19 with the HAPPI Kids data to accurately understand the impact of the virus on the cardiovascular system and how it can be treated.

All current and new members who have made their RCH1000 donation within the last twelve months (as of 3 November 2020) are automatically entered into the draw to win one of three $250 prepaid online gift cards.

Winners will be selected at random on 4 November 2020. Only winners will be notified and will be listed here from 5 November 2020.

Thank you to our anonymous prize donors.

Madeline Soloveychik

“We have a ‘busy’ injury-prone toddler. As a parent, if you’ve ever had the misfortune of attending the RCH emergency department, you will know the peace that comes from feeling your child is in the best place they can be. 

We feel an overwhelming desire to thank RCH and staff and to do what we can to ensure other children get to access the same stellar level of treatment and care.  

Joining RCH1000 is a small way we can get behind RCH to help them discover new treatments and cures for our children.  There’s no greater feeling!”

Shanika Peiris

“Witnessing the pain and anguish families go through having sick children, opened my eyes to a number of horrible diseases and conditions babies can be born with.

It really highlighted why supporting and giving to paediatric research is so important.

With this in mind, I have confidence my donation to RCH1000 can and will have a positive impact for the future of children’s health.”

Ben Walker (RCH1000 Committee Deputy Chair) 

“My younger brother was born with a genetic liver disorder so I spent a lot of time at the RCH as a child and teenager. The care and treatment provided to my brother saved his life.

As I’ve now become a father myself (with one particularly accident prone son who has already had four trips to the RCH!), the importance of what the RCH does to support families has become evident.

Now that I’m able to donate to the RCH1000 both financially and with my time, I find there isn’t a greater cause than supporting an institution that improves the lives of our children.”