Cancer kids a priority

HELPING kids with cancer is at the top of Ken Miller’s list of priorities.
He has just stepped up to take on the presidency of the Emerald Rotary Club but he is no stranger to helping out.
He has been a part of the club since 2004, organising the popular Kids Fun Run with Thomas.
Mr Miller said that in the past three years the race had collected more than $180,000 for the cancer wing at Monash Medical Centre.
Last year the event raised $65,000 and this year he was hoping to match that or go one better.
Mr Miller said the cash would go towards helping school-age kids undergoing chemotherapy.
“We want to help them to be able to continue their homework by providing computers and aids and so they can communicate with their friends while having treatment,” he said.
The cancer unit’s Dr Peter Downey said helping to keep kids’ education up to scratch while on chemotherapy was one of the biggest challenges.
After being named president for 2009-10 at a Rotary changeover dinner on Tuesday 23 June at Elevations Restaurant in Emerald, he said taking up this challenge would be an amazing learning curve.
Another key priority this year was to tackle the problem of youth mental health problems and the club was now organising a forum to do so.
Mr Miller said the club was looking for new members. In the past year it had grown from just 25 members to 33, the second highest increase in the district.
“It’s really important to keep new members coming in,” he said. “It’s going to be a great year and we always have a lot of fun.”
Anyone interested in joining the club is welcome to attend one of the meetings held every Tuesday night at the Paradise Hotel. For details call Mr Miller on 5968 5814.