Victorian MP Jaala Pulford reflects on loss of daughter Sinead to cancer

Victorian MP Jaala Pulford has been moved to tears as she reflected on losing her young daughter Sinead to cancer.

The Andrews government has made a pre-election pledge to fund paediatric cancer research in a bid to transform treatments for some of Victoria’s sickest children.

The state government announced on Sunday it would contribute $35m to the project if it is re-elected next month.

The Children’s Cancer Foundation will contribute $10m.

The $45m investment over five years is Stage 2 funding for research, clinical trials and workforce development activities within the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium.

Victoria’s Medical Research Minister Jaala Pulford reflected on the loss of her own daughter to cancer as she announced the funding commitment on Sunday.

Sinead Pulford died three months after she received her diagnosis right after the Victorian state election in 2014.

She was 13 years old.

Victorian MP Jaala Pulford, with her husband Jeff, son Hamish and a Photograph of their daughter, Sinead who died shortly after her cancer diagnosis in 2014. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ms Pulford was moved to tears as she spoke about the plan.

She said she knew what it was like to have a doctor tell a parent their child had cancer, which she described as “the worst moment imaginable”.

“Three days ago my daughter should have been turning 21. And we lit some candles,” she said.

“I truly believe this plan will make for the lighting of more birthday candles and less memorial candles.”

Ms Pulford said a cancer diagnosis was a terrifying prospect at any age and “this is doubly true” for parents.

“And while my beautiful Sinead had a catastrophic diagnosis and her care was mostly palliative, for 75 per cent of kids diagnosed with cancer, they will survive,” she said.

“But the treatments are toxic, and there are often lifelong consequences.”

Ms Pulford was hugged by Children’s Cancer Foundation chair Jeremy Smith at the press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Ascui

Ms Pulford reflected on her daughter Sinead’s experience of cancer as she and Daniel Andrews made the funding announcement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Ascui

Victoria has one of the higher incidences of childhood cancer in the world, with about 300 diagnoses each year.

And the number of diagnoses is expected to rise in coming years.

Ms Pulford said only 12 drugs have been approved worldwide for childhood cancer in the past 40 years, compared with 500 approved for adults.

“We need to do better for our kids,” she said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the funding would be rolled out over the next four years if Labor is re-elected on November 26.

The $45m will be spent on clinical trials, discovery research survivorship research programs, enhanced biobanking resources, childhood cancer physician and research training and grants.

Stage 1 funding was secured by the Children’s Cancer Foundation through the federal government’s Medical Research Futures Fund.