About
Bone Marrow Cancer Trust & Rānui House

Who We Are

With a vision to cure and a mission to care, we are committed to providing a home away from home for patients and their whanau while they are undergoing lifesaving medical treatment for cancer, accidents and life-threatening illnesses.

Kaupapa / Purpose

From Gisborne in the north to Stewart Island in the South, seriously ill New Zealanders drive or fly hundreds of kilometres to Christchurch for life saving treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, difficult pregnancies, neonatal care, kidney transplants, dialysis, general surgery and a host of other serious illnesses.

Medical services for these conditions are not available in their cities or rural communities. They leave their whanau, friends, farms, workplaces, and communities for days, weeks and even months to undergo treatment at Christchurch Hospital.

Our History and Impact

For over 30 years, the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust has supported thousands of patients and their whānau that have had to leave their homes for lifesaving medical treatment in Christchurch Hospitals.

In 1990, the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust was established by a passionate group of volunteers and haematologists with our founding CEO Allison Nicol at the helm. Their purpose was to raise funds to establish the first bone marrow transplant unit in New Zealand to be based at Christchurch Hospital.

They set about raising over one million dollars for the transplant unit, and then began the journey of raising funds to purchase land for purpose-built accommodation for the families and patients traveling to Christchurch for lifesaving treatment.

In 1993, Rānui House was built (Little Rānui). It wasn’t long before Little Rānui was having to turn away families as the demand exceeded the apartments available and a further three apartments were added.  

Again demand exceeded the apartments available and a further $7 million was raised to extend Rānui House to build Big Rānui, increasing the available accommodation to 26 fully and semi contained apartments. But demand continues to exceed availability and Rānui House is still having to turn away 2 to 3 families every day.

In 2016, the trust took another bold leap and raised further funds to purchase a freehold block of land on Selwyn Street. Construction has begun on a new purpose-built home with 43 self-contained apartments (Rānui Apartments) to be completed in 2024.

The Trust funds life-saving and world-class cancer research through its annual grants programme.

One of the cornerstones of our vision is to ‘Cure and Care’. This drives our ongoing quest to find a cure for cancer.

The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and Rānui House have been visited by world renowned transplant physicians, including Professor E. Donnall Thomas who received a Noble Prize for his work in developing bone marrow transplantation. Without exception they have declared the transplant and accommodation facilities to be the highest standard in comparison to similar facilities around the world. The Trust is proud of its achievements to date and will continue to actively support patients in need of this treatment from all areas of New Zealand.

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Our Mission

Caring for those with cancer and life-threatening illnesses by providing a home away from home and funding cancer research to find a cure.

Our Vision

Caring and Giving Hope

Our Values

  • Aroha Tautoko (Compassion, Support, inclusiveness, and
    empathy)
  • Tanga Manawa (Respite)
  • Manawa ora (Hope)
  • Uaratanga (Valuing people)
  • Pahekoheko (Integrity)
  • Taonga tuku iho (Our Heritage)

 

Our People

Meet the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust Board, Patron and Ambassador

Max Bremner

Max Bremner

Chairman

Mandy Kennedy

Mandy Kennedy

CEO - ex officio

Phil de Joux

Phil de Joux

Board Member since March 2019

Emma Davis

Emma Davis

Board Member since July 2020

Dr Sean MacPherson

Dr Sean MacPherson

Board Member since June 2019

Sir John Hansen

Sir John Hansen

Board Member since April 2017

Jeremy Flood

Jeremy Flood

Board Member since February 2017

Geordie Hooft

Geordie Hooft

Board Member & Treasurer since June 2008

Cilla Glasson, MNZM

Cilla Glasson, MNZM

Board Member since 2001

Alex Giesen

Alex Giesen

Board Member since 2023

June Leeming

June Leeming

Patron & Honorary Life Member 2022

Shannon Wright

Shannon Wright

IOD First Steps in Governance Intern 2022, Board Member since February 2024

Josh Komen

Josh Komen

Ambassador since February 2023

Our Team

Meet the Rānui House Team

Yvonne Simes

Yvonne Simes

Manager Operations

Jodie Gill

Jodie Gill

Development & Relationship Manager

Julie-anne Hansen

Julie-anne Hansen

Head Housekeeper

Steff Davis

Steff Davis

Finance Manager

Kayelene Lucas

Kayelene Lucas

Family Support Coordinator

Fae Beale

Fae Beale

Family Support Coordinator

Edith Molyneux

Edith Molyneux

Housekeeper

Klavdeia O’Connor

Klavdeia O’Connor

Housekeeper

Sonya Morgan

Sonya Morgan

Housekeeper

Lyaine Tinkler

Lyaine Tinkler