The time for making New Year’s Resolutions is over – it’s now time to start thinking seriously about keeping them!

As the festive season winds down, we can start to think seriously about what we can do differently in 2012. We plan for new tasks, set new goals, and come up with new ideas. So this new year, why not commit to a resolution that could make a real difference, and consider regular charity donations to cancer research?

Regular charity donations are the most cost effective way for you to support the ACRF, and they enable us as a cancer research charity to plan for the future.

In 2012, you can have the satisfaction of being part of something big.

This month has seen the mourning of two highly regarded influential Australians, and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) would like to thank well-wishers for their generous donations in their memory.

The late Lady (Faye) Rowland, wife to the former Governor of NSW, Air Marshal Sir James Anthony Rowland, lost her fight with cancer on December 16, 2011. The family have requested that donations be made to the ACRF in lieu of flowers or gifts, a gesture for which ACRF is truly grateful. We send our thanks and best wishes to the family and friends of such a wonderful woman.

The ACRF is also humbled to receive donations in memory of the late V8 Supercar driver, Jason Richards. It was only a year ago that Jason was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of cancer. Despite the prognosis, Jason continued to be a force on the track, and his energy and determination has touched many Australians.

Christmas is a time that can be difficult for many thousands of Australians who have lost a loved one to this terrible disease in recent years. If you wish to make a memorial donation to the ACRF, please click here.

As summer begins the Australian 2011 fun run and marathon season draws to a close. The team here at ACRF are always astounded by how many fantastic supporters get out and get active for cancer research throughout the year. This year has been our most successful year yet with over $179,000 raised through the major running events across the country!

Each event has introduced us to some incredible supporters, each with their own story about why they chose to take on their running challenge while concurrently contributing to cancer research. Here are some of the highlights…

The inaugural ACRF Charity Golf Day was held at Georges River Golf course on Friday 28^th of October 2011. 70 passionate golf enthusiasts participated in the event, hosted by Torch Publishing. All the proceeds raised went to cancer research. Some amazing sporting personalities lent their support to cancer research, including former Canterbury Bulldogs great Garry Hughes and former Queensland State of Origin and Parramatta Eels Coach, Michael Hagan (a prostate cancer survivor).

Cr Khal Asfour and Cr Alan Winterbottom, Mayor and Deputy of Bankstown City Council respectively, were keen to be out there on the green. Amazingly many of the men at the event were cancer survivors or are very close to someone who died of cancer or is currently battling cancer.

“The miracle is not that I finished, the miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

When we met Gill Thomas a few months ago, she told us her inspiration was simply to work towards the hardest thing she could ever conceive of doing. So in memory of her late husband, Ian, and for all the people she has known and loved who have fought cancer, Gill prepared herself for the epic New York marathon.

Gill left her home in Queensland for New York four days before the 42km run would be held on November 6th. Gill had not only trained hard in the lead-up to this marathon but she also managed to fundraise an incredible $13,000 for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation – donations in memory that will fight cancer for future generations.

Now that the race has been run, Gill has shared her story. She talks of the pre-dawn wintry congregation at the starting line, of the gospel singers surrounding the streets of Harlem motivating her on, and of finally reaching Central Park and finding amazing reserves of energy once again to run the last kilometre towards the finish line!

Experience the race through Gill’s eyes by clicking ‘read more’, below.

If you too would like to contribute to cancer research with a donation in memory of a loved one, or by participating in a sporting event, please speak to ACRF about your ideas.