2004 saw an exciting and busy year for the Foundation with the highlight being the WD Rose & Joseph Allison Gala Event. The funeral company combined fun and fashion to raise just over $30,000 for the Margaret Pratt Foundation.The support of Rose & Allison enabled the Foundation to grant $98,000 to the Alfred Hospital Lung Transplant Research Group funding 3 projects this year.
The Event Committee held its inaugural 'Ladies Luncheon' in July and the Progressive Committee continued with their October trivia night which I think will now be an annual event.

I have had the opportunity to speak to many and varied groups throughout the year enabling me to raise awareness of the problems faced by transplant recipients and to also raise the issue of organ donation.

A personal honour for me in 2004 was participating in the Olympic Torch Relay. After an early start (I was runner no.3), I made my way up Grattan Street with family and friends cheering me on.

The Foundation has received strong support in helping us achieve our mission. Our success in 2004 is a reflection of the dedication and enthusiasm shown by both the Event and Progressive committees.

I express my gratitude to all our wonderful supporters who attended our events and for the generosity of individuals and organizations who continue to provide us with financial support to help us meet our goals.

I wish you peace and good health throughout 2005.

Margaret

DIARY DATE: SUNDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2005 - CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE VINEYARD

The Margaret Pratt Foundation would not exist without the support and assistance of many individuals and organizations. The Trustees of the Foundation thank all benefactors and look forward to the continuing association throughout 2005.
With special thanks to:

• The Transplant Promotion Council
• Tattersalls
• WD Rose & Joseph Allison Funerals

A crowd of 300 guests were treated to a night of glamour and excitement with the Victoria Police Band, "Code One" donating their time and music. A spectacular fashion show was choreographed featuring "Gown of the Year" and various raffles and auctions were held during the evening. Goods including a Mazda 2, holidays, sporting memorabilia, wine and food hampers and much more were keenly contested during the major auction, while a $7,700.00 ruby was won by Mrs Lynda Whitty in our lucky champagne glass draw.  Great food and drink helped top off a mostexciting evening. We at WD Rose and Joseph Allison Funerals have been really impressed with the support and encouragement we have received from our colleagues in the industry, associated cemeteries and crematoria and our suppliers and other friends. This support and generosity, coupled with the public interest in our event helped us to realize a donation to The Margaret Pratt Foundation of $32,430.36. A cheque for this amount was handed to Margaret at a Foundation luncheon at the Boulevard Restaurant in Kew on Wednesday July 14th 2004. It is only through continued research that the causes of organ rejection can be beaten, and we are proud that our small contribution will make a difference to this research.

120 Ladies enjoyed fine food and wine at the Boulevard restaurant on July 14th. We were expertly looked after by manager, Anthony Pezzimenti and his staff.
Special guest speaker Susie Norton enthralled us with her energy and enthusiasm as she spoke about her life as teacher, Lady Mayoress and her work with Kids Tennis Foundation.

Sandra Bishop of W D Rose Funerals presented a cheque of $32,430.36 to the Foundation, money raised from their Gala Charity Event held earlier in the year.

Thank you to all that attended this luncheon - your contribution on the day raised $5,000 for transplant research at the Alfred Hospital.

2004 has been a most successful year for the Margaret Pratt Foundation Progressive Committee.  Despite losing a couple of our committee members to travel and work commitments we have persevered with the very special help of Pernille Pratt, Kate Tuckey, Pauline Coulton, Chris Pratt and Owen Cavanough.

We assisted the Event Committee & WD Rose in May of this year and managed to gather three tables of young party-goers to attend.  We all had a great night - especially with those men in blue!

Our Trivia Night at Bell's Hotel was a huge success 2nd year running and we raised $1500 for the Foundation.  Marty was our witty Trivia host again and thanks must go to all who donated, especially Bells Hotel for their hospitality, Natio and Studio Ingot for their ongoing support.

Part of our plan for 2005 is to make charitable work a more affordable and desirable option for young people.  If you have interest in joining our Progressive Committee we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Owen Cavanough on 0407 058 018 for more information.

Throughout 2004 I have had the privilege of speaking to a number of organizations about my own experience of transplantation and about the work and goals of The Margaret Pratt Foundation. I wish to thank the following for their generosity and assisting the Foundation in furthering its endeavors:

• Australian Funeral Directors Assoc
• Victorian Institutional Laundries Assoc
• Loreto Mandeville Hall
• Prahran Rotary
• Mitcham Rotary

The Margaret Pratt Foundation donated $98,350 to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne supporting the following:

PhD STUDENT: Lucas Law is a Bachelor of Science graduate who has completed an Honours degree. He has been studying the immunological processes that lead to chronic lung rejection.

Lucas' PhD plans to explore the utility of in vitro modeling firstly to assess whether responses from airways cells and immune cells in the lung transplant recipient vary from normal responses. Secondly, he will try to develop systems that will predict the best combination of anti rejection drugs for an individual lung transplant recipient.

DR LING ZHENG: Dr Ling Zheng is pivotal to the research efforts of the lung transplant research unit and the Margaret Pratt Foundation will be supporting her position as Laboratory Manager. Dr Zheng's investigations into airway inflammation and airway obstruction, that can lead to lung rejection, has advanced the understanding of this most difficult and devastating problem. It is hoped that Dr Zheng's research will lead to the development of early detection methods of deteriorating lung function and the implementation of useful therapeutic interventions.

SPECIMEN FREEZER: This freezer will be used to store/archive research specimens and reagents for ongoing studies. Over the years the transplant unit has collected a lot of respiratory specimens kindly provided by transplant patients and control subjects. These specimens survive well in a low temperature freezer, such that studies can be performed even years after collection. The specimens actually now provide a tremendous 'library' to study new concepts and techniques. The current studies are aimed at exploring the pathway and mechanisms of chronic lung rejection and its potential treatment/prevention with Rapamycin.

Please help us to support this important research by making a donation to the Margaret Pratt Foundation.

In recognition of our most generous donors an Honour Board has been placed in the public area of the Transplant ward at the Alfred Hospital. These organizations and individuals have made a significant contribution to the Foundation.

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of this local vineyard, food and wine with great entertainment featuring The Melbourne Welsh Choir. A mini auction will give you the opportunity for some Christmas shopping.