Our Story
Since October 2007, Hannah’s Chance Foundation has been the passionate voice in the fight against sarcoma. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that predominantly affects young people between the ages 12 and 25. There are various types of sarcomas, all of which are very aggressive and almost 50 per cent of sufferers do not survive.
Hannah’s Chance Foundation aims to raise valuable funds for medical research into finding a cure for sarcoma. The Foundation is also focused on helping to provide sarcoma patients and their families with comfort and support once they are diagnosed and on their journey.
The establishment of Hannah’s Chance Foundation was the dream of Hannah Ciobo-O’Driscoll, daughter of Australian swimming great Tracey Wickham and Robert Ciobo, and Hannah’s husband Tom O’Driscoll. Hannah fought very bravely against the rare synovial sarcoma for three years until she lost her battle on 2 October 2007, aged 19. Tom suffered from Ewings sarcoma, but fortunately is now in remission.
Hannah and Tom felt it was extremely important to raise both awareness of sarcomas and the funds needed to further research into this under-resourced area. Due to the limited amount of research currently being undertaken on sarcomas there is every possibility that, with the community’s support, Hannah’s Chance Foundation can make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of sarcoma sufferers in Australia and around the world.
Mission:
To passionately fight sarcoma through research, awareness and patient support.
Vision:
To be a leading force in the fight to rid the world of sarcoma, by bringing together medical researchers and supporters and directly assisting sarcoma sufferers.
Sarcoma:
Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective or supportive tissue, which includes bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, and soft tissue. More than one thousand Australians are diagnosed with sarcomas every year. Sarcomas are given a number of different names, based on the type of tissue from which they arise. For example, osteosarcoma arises from bone, chondrosarcoma from cartilage, and leiomyosarcoma from smooth muscle.
To find more about how you can support Hannah’s Chance Foundation, click here
or phone 07 3721 1777.
“I now know why I was put on this earth to swim fast – it’s so I can help make sure that no other parent or child will have to go through the pain and suffering that Hannah and our family endured.
Now that Hannah is flying with angels, I feel that it is my duty to continue Hannah’s legacy so that her death will not be in vain."
- -Tracey Wickham, Olympic swimmer and five times world record holder
