This Intercom is dedicated to UCARF.
Members, I am wondering how you respond when someone asks you “What is this UCARF thing?”
I know that quite a few of you will be able to answer it comprehensively, however, just to ensure that we are all aware of what the Ulysses Club Inc.’s preferred charity is here is some information.
UCARF – Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund -
• was formed in 1997 when our founder Stephen Dearnley 1 proposed that our Club adopt Rheumatoid Arthritis Research as our preferred charity. This was unanimously accepted.
Stephen’s wife, Jo, lost a 20-year battle with rheumatoid arthritis.
• NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS RECEIVED – ALL FUNDS COME FROM BRANCHES AND MEMBER’S DONATIONS.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• It is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints and can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and damage. It can also affect the heart, lungs, skin, eyes, mouth and nervous system.
• It can be totally debilitating and over time erodes your bones causing severe pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility.
• It currently affects 514,000 Australians each year.
What do we do with the funds that our members raise?
Over the years the Ulysses Club Inc. has donated close to $500,000 to research – a great effort. Well done Ulysses Club members!!!!
• A specific UCARF bank account holds all funds raised. The UCARF Coordinator in conjunction with the National Treasurer manages research sponsorships directly with the relevant institutions. This means we can guarantee 100% of all funds raised are spent directly on Rheumatoid Arthritis research.
• We are currently (2025) funding three researchers at universities in Vic, NSW and QLD to the extent of $62,000 per year over four years. A total of $248,000.
• 100% of the funds that we give to the universities must be spent on research.
o at Clinical and Molecular Medicine at Monash University in Victoria, we sponsor a PhD student, Bailey Slyp to undertake research on finding a safe medicine for the treatment of RA. See article on our webpage – members – documents – UCARF – 2024 Introduction Report Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Scholarship.
o at the Facility of Medicine at Queensland University, we provide a PhD top up scholarship for a researcher working on developing a new curative treatment for RA.
o at Sutton Institute at Sydney University, we provide funding for the researchers working under Professor Meilang Xue who are working on understanding the causes behind the disease and then developing means to correct this.
• The researchers believe that they are very close to breakthroughs. The results of the research also has implications for other inflammatory diseases such as lupus, blood cancers and asthma to name just a few.
Well, there we go – next time someone asks, “What is this UCARF thing?” You will have lots to tell them. The more we are informed the more likely we can fund the vital research and hopefully, in the very near future, find a cure for this insidious disease that can affect anyone of us.
If you want to know more or how your Branch or yourself can help to raise funds, contact any National Committee member or the National Coordinator for UCARF, Ken Eaton
ken@ucarf.com for info on how to do this or visit the website
www.ulysses.org.au login then go to members – documents – UCARF
Keep the shiny side up and we hope to see many of you in Armidale at the National Rally.
The National Committee.
National Committee
Allan Pratt – President
Dave Wright – Vice President
John Tout – Treasurer
Lyn Tout – Secretary
Committee members – Blue Knowles, Dennis King, Lea Morgan
Questions and comments should be directed to the National Secretary
secretary@ulysses.org.au
