Thanks to generous Victorians, the 2016 Good Friday Appeal raised a record-breaking $17,445,624.38 to help the hospital.

For the past six weeks, Victorians have done their part to give that they may grow. From sausage sizzles and family fun days, to the $1.7 million raising Run for the Kids, each and every community rallied behind our sickest and most vulnerable children.

On Good Friday itself, tin rattlers could be seen throughout the state, making a big difference with small change. Kids Day Out at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was a smashing success, with the Teddy Bear Hospital, Auskick, pirates on the Polly Woodside, an indoor roller-skating rink and even a laser skirmish tournament. At the RCH, we woke up with Channel 7 who kicked off the 2016 telethon on Main Street. We also hosted everyone from Batman to the Border Patrol puppies, Carlton footballers to ballet dancers and a range of celebrities including Home and Away and MKR stars.

The capper for us was when the RCH Auxiliaries proudly presented their donation cheque for $1,472,198. We are so proud of them for their ongoing support of the hospital.

It was a big day with an even bigger result and we hope you had as much fun as we did being a part of it. Thank you for making the 2016 Good Friday Appeal our best one yet.

Photo courtesy of Herald Sun 

Story by Brigid O’Connell, Herald Sun health reporter

Photo courtesy of David Caird, Herald Sun photographer

It seems illogical at first. Remove part of a child’s brain — the sacrosanct symbol of life and logic — and they will be healthier and happier.

But Erika and Steven Murphy had run out of options for their daughter, Aliera.

No proposal to blow away the electrical storm in a tiny brain is out of the question when your child is having hundreds of seizures a week, and no medication is working.

But what if the operation that could rid your chatterbox child of seizures also took away her speech?

Ultimately, in an unusual two-step surgery that involved surgically implanting electrodes under her skull to map her language area while awake, Royal Children’s Hospital surgeons have removed most of the lobe of brain above Aliera’s left ear, which they hope will leave the four-year-old free of seizures.

Thanks to a record-breaking total, the 2016 Good Friday Appeal is funding nearly 20 important RCH initiatives that are changing the future of children’s health.

One of these is a major RCH research initiative — genomic medicine. This emerging medical discipline uses a person’s unique genomic information to tailor clinical care to individuals. It also investigates genetic conditions to advance treatment and develop cures.

To further research genomic medicine, the RCH is part of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, which brings leading local healthcare, research and academic organisations together to advance genomic sequencing and bring genomic medicine into our healthcare system.

Britney’s Run
Britney is running from her hometown of Mansfield to the RCH this month to fundraise for the hospital’s maxillofacial clinic, which provides great care to her sister Zoe. Zoe was born with a bilateral Tessier facial cleft and continues to undergo craniofacial surgeries at the RCH. Britney hopes to raise $200,000 for the 200kms she'll be running to help other RCH kids like Zoe. To support Britney, click here.

Dog Lovers Show
The RCH Auxiliaries will be joining the Dog Lovers Show from 29 April – 1 May. Visit their stall for yummy dog treats, fun toys for your furry friend and the chance to win a handmade doggie quilt. Book your tickets in advance for an early bird discount!

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Fundraising Luncheon
Support RCH nurses at this annual luncheon, which funds a $50,000 scholarship to advance nursing excellence at the hospital. Hosted by Channel 7 Health Editor Dr Andrew Rochford, featuring entertainment by Richard Thomas and a fascinating talk by guest speaker Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, it promises to be an invigorating afternoon. For tickets, click here.