Community Involvement

SUFC & THE CHRIS O’BRIEN LIFEHOUSE AT RPA
A PERFECT UNION

The Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) has a proud history of being involved with a number of community based organisations and charities.

Over the past few years, SUFC has had a successful association with the Cancer Council of Australia, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and has supported Green Australia initiatives. Across 2010 and 2011, the Club worked closely with Redkite, a charity which provides support services for children and young people with cancer – in hospital and in the community. Each year, SUFC hosted an annual Redkite Day at a Sydney University home game, where players broke away from the “blue & gold” tradition to wear red socks and a red warm up kit in support of Redkite.

From 2012, SUFC is delighted to be honouring the outstanding work of the late Dr Chris O’Brien by partnering with The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, a world-class treatment and research facility which provides integrated care to patients and carers.

“The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA would like to express our sincere thanks to the Sydney University Football Club for choosing to support our organisation during the 2012 season. We know that Chris would be delighted about the partnership due to his lifelong association with Sydney University and his love of the game of Rugby Union”, said CEO of The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, Timothy Dugan.

The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA is currently working on delivering a new model of care in Australia in the form of a new $230 million state of the art Integrated Cancer Centre. From the middle of 2013 it will provide both public and private patients with a comprehensive cancer treatment service incorporating clinical care, complementary therapies and emotional support services. Worldwide, Integrated Cancer Centres are recognised as the ideal delivery model for optimal cancer care, providing the best possible outcomes to support today’s survivors, and hope and advances for the future through research and education.

“Sydney University is the key research partner in The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA and as such it is very fitting that SUFC have chosen to support the organisation that will transform the treatment of cancer in Australia by bringing together all elements of cancer research, treatment, care and support within one centre of excellence. We will offer the latest research and technology, advanced medical and complementary therapies, as well as emotional support and sanctuary in one place when we open in the middle of 2013, coincidently during SUFC’s 150th anniversary year”, said Timothy.

“Chris O’Brien was a man of leadership, vision and courage. He inspired people, both through his work as a cancer specialist and through his own personal battle”, said SUFC President, David Mortimer AO. “Much like the Sydney University Football Club, Chris always strived for excellence and leading edge best practice. To me, our Club’s partnership with the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA is the perfect union”.