Why I’m doing Jeans for Genes
I care about the 1 in 20 Aussie kids who face a birth defect or genetic disease. That’s one in every classroom, maybe someone you know or love. Every day, many of these kids wake up to pills, injections, hospital visits (or worse). They never get the chance to run around and just be kids. If they can endure that, and keep smiling, then the least I can do is fight alongside them. That’s why I’m doing Jeans for Genes and raising money for Children’s Medical Research Institute. I want to give these kids better treatments and maybe even a cure.
I’ve signed up to Wear Jeans, so I can raise awareness and start the conversation—we need to do all we can to help save more kids’ lives. Can you help by sharing this message with the people you know and asking them to donate too? I (and millions of Aussie kids) thank you for it!
Here's just one example of how, together, we can change things:
When Kalarny was born, he couldn’t hold his head up. He couldn’t move. He was fighting just to breathe. He was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and his parents were told he wouldn’t survive to his first birthday. Thanks to research, he survived, but he needs regular spinal injections and a wheelchair to get around. If he’d been born just a few years later, he could have received gene therapy. Infants treated with just one injection of gene therapy seem to be cured. It’s early days, but signs indicate that they will go on to lead normal, healthy lives. It’s so effective, SMA has been added to newborn screening and the gene therapy treatment is covered by PBS. A disease that was incurable, a death sentence, just a few years ago, is now curable. Amazing. That’s what I want for more kids and more of the 6000 genetic diseases out there.
You might think you won’t need this research, that it’s not personal, but genetic diseases are a ticking timebomb. Most families don’t know they carry the gene for a disease, and many genetic diseases are not even inherited—they happen randomly, out of the blue. Like Kalarny’s. Like cancer. Most people don’t know that cancer is caused by changes in genes—but almost everyone will be touched by it. So, the research you and I support today may one day help someone we know, someone in our family.
There’s lots of work to do, but there is also lots of hope.
Join me. Share this message. Donate. Thank You!
My Impact
So far this year I helped provide...
71
Hours of research
For every $50 raised, one hour of research is funded
Funds raised over the years
Biggest Donor
Jean-ius Donor
$350
Thank you so much to my biggest supporter, Kellie Mason, for donating an incredible $350 to help fund vital research into curing children’s genetic diseases.
Thank you to our Sponsors
$56
Angela Scott
Well done Archer!! Keep up the amazing work you are doing.
$91
Bianca Brady
$52
Tamara Angel
$110
Croker Family
$110
Doug Caldwell
$91
Jenny Thompson
Happy 50th
$110
Marliese And John Heffernan
Happy Birthday James! We had an amazing time at your party! 🎉
$55
Craig And Tracey Jones
Happy Birthday
$106
David And Kate Curran
We are grateful to have been included in your 50th birthday celebrations!
$104
Glenn And Kerri Calverley
Happy Birthday Yuc! Love the Calverley’s
$110
Scott And Amber Hillam
$110
Molineux Family
Great job Archer!
$135
Kate Sharman
$106
Jack And Will Smirl
Happy 50 th Birthday James Lots of Love The Smirls
$104
George & Camille
$89
Andrew &fiona Hamilton
$110
James & Sarah
Happy Birthday James Love Sarah & James
$110
Joe And Elissa Drew
Happy birthday King! Great gift idea❤
$150
Andrew And Lisa Oliver
Happy birthday James, we hope your night doesn’t get too ‘wild’. From the Olivers
$110
Bernard & Samantha Star
$54
Tom De Mattia
$350
Kellie Mason
Happy Birthday Brades! Looking forward to celebrating with you tonight. Maso, Lando, Ray Meagher, Tommy C, Lachie Roche, Sutto and Shep
$150
Becci And Steve Brabin
Happy birthday James
$110
Alicia & Adam White
$56
Ged Ryan
$91
Jules And Rob Ramsay
Good job Archer!
$211
David Spencer
$105
James Meckiff & Katie Last
Good job Archer!
$56
Kirsty Pockley
$108
Deanna Austin
$110
Karen Coe
$56
Aaron James
$91
Matt Hocking
Always happy to support a good cause, especially for a legend of a kid!
"Well done Archer!! Keep up the amazing work you are doing."