The Ladybird Foundation

 About Us

The Ladybird Foundation is a Western Australian charity raising vital funds for breast and gynaecologic cancer research in our state. Each year in WA, around 1600 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 420 women are diagnosed with a gynaecologic cancer, such as ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer.  Cancer knows no boundaries and these conditions touch the lives of many Western Australians. Consisting entirely of volunteers, we rely on the goodwill and generosity of the WA community to continue our work.

Our Work

The Ladybird Foundation improves our community’s access to the benefits of the latest research breakthroughs and improvements in cancer treatment by funding the work of local researchers, especially the Clinician researchers who make it possible for WA patients to participate in trials of new treatments, such as the ROLLIS Trial.

There is a recognised real need for funding for high quality research in the fields of both breast and gynaecologic cancer here in WA.  Excellent research is essential to provide evidence for new treatments that will improve outcomes for patients.

In 2016, less than 12% of all medical research grant applications to the Federal government’s NHMRC were successful in obtaining funding, with WA researchers receiving a disproportionately small share of this funding. The Ladybird Foundation provides an opportunity for Western Australians to donate and fundraise directly to excellent local research projects, supporting a cause that resonates with them.

The ROLLIS Project

Our current fundraising project is the ROLLIS trial (Radioguided Occult Lesion Localisation using Iodine 125 Seeds). WA is hosting this very important collaborative, multi-centre, multi-disciplinary Clinician-led clinical trial with the potential to change the way breast imaging and surgery is conducted.

The Ladybird Foundation aims to raise a further $50,000 in funds urgently needed for the salary of the support staff role of clinical trial coordinator to enable completion of the ROLLIS Trial by mid-2018.

The ROLLIS Trial compares the promising new ROLLIS technique to the current standard hook-wire technique for localisation of impalpable breast cancers. Potential benefits for patients include preserving healthy breast tissue, reducing the likelihood of costly traumatic repeat operations to ensure all cancer is removed, as well as improving patient satisfaction with their cancer treatment and the cosmetic outcome of surgery.