Telethon matches Thalanyji donation for diabetes care, research

A Pilbara Aboriginal group’s goal to reduce diabetes in remote areas has been given a boost after the Telethon Foundation Trust Board matched their donation from earlier this year.

Thalanyji donated $50,000 to Telethon for diabetes research and the care of children from remote regions of WA in November.

Telethon’s decision to match that amount this month brings the total funding for the cause to $100,000.

Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Matthew Slack said he was incredibly pleased with the announcement.

“It is obviously a cause we are passionate about, so for the Telethon Foundation Trust Board to even consider matching funding is a massive step in achieving real results for those affected,” he said.

According to Diabetes WA, 28,912 people are living with diabetes in regional WA and indigenous Australians are almost four times more likely to have the disease than non-indigenous Australians.