Hello, my name is Peter Fergusson and I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Chief Executive Officer of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC). My predecessor Pru Etcheverry has left me some very big shoes to fill as CEO, but I am excited to join an organisation that has helped so many New Zealand families affected by blood cancer.
I am committed to growing our services to ensure we reach more people that need our help. This includes personalised patient support, comprehensive information and education, advocating on behalf of patients and funding research into better treatments and potential cures for blood cancer. Now as we look to the future of our organisation, these are the ways that LBC will meet the growing needs of our patients and families.
Reaching more people
We believe that no one should have to face blood cancer alone, and we know that over the coming years there will be increased demand for our services. We have recently opened a new office in Dunedin, and have employed two new Support Services staff, but we are also committing to ‘future proofing’ our services by launching our Endowment Fund.
Helping people get the best possible care
We are committed to patient care, and often in collaboration with many other health agencies, we advocate on behalf of our patients to ensure that they get the best treatment. Over the coming years, as we increase the number of patients we support, we aim to grow our advocacy service to provide a voice for our patients when they need it.
Support for life
We know that living with cancer doesn’t always end with the ‘all clear’. Being diagnosed with cancer or a blood condition can be life-changing, and even when a patient is in remission, it is often difficult or even impossible to pick up the life they had before diagnosis. We help patients and their families to cope with the long-term impact of their diagnosis by offering one-to-one support or counselling, financial help, or providing assistance with learning new skills to re-enter the workforce. This is an area of care that is often under-explored by health agencies, and over the coming years we will do more to raise awareness and provide help for those who need it.
Research
We are committed to improving the quality of life for patients and their families living with blood cancer or a blood condition, and this also means working to find the causes of these diseases and to improve patient outcomes.
We fund the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer Research Unit at the University of Auckland, where 18 researchers are undertaking ground-breaking genetic research into the causes and treatment for blood cancer. Our core funding of the unit has also helped to attract other funders and researchers looking for a cure. Over the coming pages you will read more about our plans around patient services and research, and hear the stories of how every day Kiwis and businesses are helping us to make a difference to those who need us most. Thank you for choosing us as an organisation that you want to support. We have only come this far with the assistance of people like you, and I hope that you will continue to help us as we look to the future.
Peter Fergusson – CEO Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand