Last Sunday, Kathryn Viegas and Victoria Stevenson took the first step in Nomos’ journey as a corporate partner of the TLR Foundation by participating in their first event of 2019, a head shave!
The TLR Foundation’s mission is to give hope to patients with blood cancers and other diseases treatable with a stem cell or bone marrow transplant by giving everyone the best chance of a full recovery. The Foundation started with a goal of raising $300,000 to fund a room in the new Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant ward in St Vincent’s Hospital. They reached that target in 2018 and went straight into their second goal: to raise $160,000 to establish the Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship. This will be a perpetual scholarship that will enable one nurse each year to study for a Master in Cancer & Haematology Nursing at the University of Sydney. It was this idea that inspired us to become a corporate partner of the Foundation.
The Foundation’s first event was a head shave held at Raw Anthony Nader on Sunday 7 April 2019. Kathryn and Victoria did not hesitate to volunteer to participate. “For most people going through chemotherapy, losing their hair isn’t a choice, but for us it is. The patients are the brave ones and if Nomos can do something to support not just them, but also the nurses who care for them, then why wouldn’t we? Both Kathryn and I recognise the value of higher education and we think that helping to establish this scholarship is an excellent way for us to give back to the community”, said Victoria.
For Kathryn, the partnership with the Foundation is particularly meaningful, as it was set up in memory of her former client Trace Richey. Kathryn said “I was lucky enough to get to know Trace when I was his immigration lawyer. Obviously, we had no idea at the time that he would become sick, but the fact that he became an Australian citizen was hugely important to the standard of care he received. Also, Victoria and I know only too well that visa issues can and do separate families. Trace’s ability to remain permanently in Australia meant he was with his partner when he needed him the most. It gives me great joy to think that our practice lets us honour Trace’s memory in this way”.
Thanks to the donations from some very generous clients, colleagues and other supporters, we are thrilled to say that Nomos helped raise a further $30,000 towards the $160,000, meaning that the Foundation is now only $90,000 away from their target. Their next major event is the 2019 City2Surf, and Nomos is proud to be one of TLR’s official sponsors. If you want to be a part of the City2Surf this year, please consider joining Team Nomos! Get in touch with Kathryn to find out how.
Victoria getting used to her new look
Kathryn in the talented hands of Anthony Nader
