News
Artists’ images of pain to help fund research |
| Spokesperson: | Pain Management Research Institute |
| Date: | Tuesday, 10 March 2009 |
| Category: | Research/Trials |
| At any time, a staggering 3.2 million Australians of working age have severe persistent pain that obstructs and constricts their lives, often to devastating effect for them and their families. The total economic cost is estimated at $34 billion annually in lost workdays and associated healthcare costs. 30 artists from across Australia have committed to creating and donating an artwork on the subject of pain to help raise funds for the Pain Management Research Institute of Australia. Their works are part of a group art show called Windows on Pain and will be exhibited at four NSW locations – Eveleigh, Willoughby, Gosford and Parramatta from 4 May until 10 June. They will then be auctioned at a fundraising dinner at the Art Gallery of NSW on 12 June. Director of the Pain Management Research Institute, Professor Michael Cousins said, “As a Pain Medicine Specialist I am appalled that in 2009 there are still 20% of the people who consult me that I cannot help. We can and must do better, but this will only happen if we have the funds to enable us to accelerate PMRI’s pain research.” Windows on Pain also incorporates an awareness day – Windows on Pain Day – on Friday 5 June. During the month of June specially designed promotional badges will be sold at banks, railway stations, shopping centres, hospitals, workplaces, gyms, doctors’ waiting rooms and Pharmacies. Some 200 pharmacies across Australia have agreed to sell Windows on Pain badges for the month of June this year. The initiative has been encouraged by Reckitt Benckiser. Reckitt Benckiser in 2009 is again proud to support the Pain Management Research Institute in their endeavours to promote the issue of pain in the community and research for the management of pain. Reckitt Benckiser sponsors the PMRI’s annual Windows on Pain event and this year we are working with pharmacies to aid in the distribution of the Windows on Pain fundraising badges. By being involved with the PMRI hopefully we can help their work and aid in the development of pain management strategies which will result in helping the lives of thousands of Australians living with pain everyday. Boxes of badges are available from the Windows on Pain Campaign Office (02) 9926 6375 or via the website www.windowsonpain.org. For details of research into chronic pain, clinical management options and patient stories, visit the Pain Management Research Institute website www.pmri.med.usyd.edu.au. |
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