TLR Foundation

21/09/2026

Today is World Marrow Donor Day. The day when we get to say a massive thank you to all the people who join the stem cell donor registry so a stranger gets a second chance at life.

To every person who swabbed the inside of their cheeks, you're incredible. It took just a few minutes. It may have felt like nothing at the time but it might turn out to be everything to someone out there.

We're so proud to say that hundreds have signed up because of TLR. Not through some big machine, just our events, our website and our blogs, one person at a time. It takes our volunteers thousands of hours to find special people like this. Every hour of it totally worth it.

And of those hundreds, 5 have already come up as a match and donated. Five people said yes. Five people rolled up their sleeve for a stranger. That's not a number on a report. That's five families who got more time.

One of those five is Stefan. He signed up as a nursing student. He's now a qualified nurse in the emergency department at St Vincent's, and in his first week on the job he took a day off to go and donate his stem cells to someone he'll probably never meet. What a legend.

To everyone who's swabbed, shared, donated, or helped TLR in any way, thank you. You're all bloody legends!

08/09/2026

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and there's something you can do to help.

If you're aged 17 to 35 and eligible, you could sign up to be a stem cell donor and one day save a life. But we get it, you probably have questions first. So we found four absolute legends who've been through the process and asked them a heap of them. Does it hurt? Is it safe? Do you get paid? They hold nothing back.

Fair warning, it's 28 minutes long, but it covers the lot, from the jabs in the lead up to donation day to the recovery afterwards, and everything in between. Settle in, it's worth it. It might just change your mind about signing up.

If you've been thinking about joining the stem cell donor registry ...

10/08/2026

Just WOW! Where to start… Thank you, to every person who put their hand in a pocket or put on their running (ok walking) shoes for us this year. The support from this community has been bloody amazing.

Forty kind souls put on a TLR cap, walked the 14km, and then earned every one of the adult beverages that followed at the Tea Gardens afterparty. You’re part of the TLR family now, all of you.

And having the nurses walk with us this year? We’re ridiculously grateful. It’s not lost on us who you are or what you do the rest of the week.

And landing on the City2Surf leaderboard? For a small charity run by four rather passionate volunteers, that means something. No salaries, no rent, no overheads quietly eating into it. Every dollar goes straight to the cause. We’re so proud of that.

The nursing scholarships we can offer because of this year will make a real difference, not just here in Sydney but right across the country.

You’ve made this year such a success, and we’re beyond grateful. To the team who walked, and to everyone who donated, thank you so, so much ❤️

Ps still taking donations 😜

https://city2surf26.grassrootz.com/tlr-foundation

07/08/2026

Meet the Haemo Goblins. Five nurses from the Kinghorn Cancer Centre who've completely stolen our hearts.

They spend their days caring for people with cancer, and this Sunday they're lacing up to run 14km for Team TLR. They're raising money for the scholarships that train specialist cancer and haematology nurses at the University of Sydney, so more patients get the kind of care this lot already gives.

And here's the bit that really got us. One of the Haemo Goblins has already graduated with a Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing on a TLR scholarship. So she's not just running to fund the scholarships, she's what they make possible. How's that for paying it forward.

If you support them, please donate to their fundraising page here:
https://city2surf26.grassrootz.com/tlr-foundation/haemo-goblins

Sending our love and gratitude for helping TLR make a difference xx

30/06/2026

Well, this is a nice way to end the financial year. TLR is sitting at number 8 on the City2Surf leaderboard! For a tiny, entirely volunteer run charity to be up there among the big names is blood amazing, and we're ridiculously grateful to everyone who's got us here.

It's all down to our team of 40 walking the 14km this year and the supporters cheering them on with their wallets. Some of you have been extraordinarily generous and we love you for it.

We've also introduced something new this year. Alongside our two perpetual nursing scholarships at the University of Sydney, we're now supporting haematology nurses who want to become Nurse Practitioners. Think super-charged nurse: they can diagnose, prescribe and help lead a patient's treatment plan, and there are nowhere near enough of them.

Helping nurses become specialists in cancer and haematology care is what we do, and we love doing it.

Today's the last day to make a tax deductible donation for 2025/26. If you're picking a charity before the deadline, we'd love you to consider TLR.

https://city2surf26.grassrootz.com/tlr-foundation/neil-p

01/06/2026

Wishing a very happy Pride Month to all our LGBTQIA+ friends and family. This month is about belonging. And there's one place everyone belongs: the Aussie stem cell donor registry.

Your stem cells don't care who you love, how you identify, or who you went home with last Saturday. They just know how to save a life.

For years, the only way to join the stem cell donor registry was through blood donation, which shut many in the community out. With cheek swabs, that barrier is gone.

If you're aged 17 to 35 you could be eligible to join. Signing up takes three minutes and a cheek swab kit will be mailed to your home. If you're ever matched, donating is similar to a long plasma donation. A few hours of your time could give someone a lifetime.

This Pride Month, do something that costs nothing and could mean everything.

https://tlr.org.au/lgbtqia-community/

28/05/2026

What a fabulous day. We rocked up to Blacktown Hospital with a bunch of cheek swab kits and a simple question: got a few minutes to hear how your stem cells could save a stranger’s life? And then let us take unflattering pictures while they swabbed their cheeks.

None of this happened without someone special. Elise is a TLR nursing scholarship recipient. She opened the doors, rallied her colleagues, and reminded us exactly why we do what we do.

Thank you to the entire Blacktown Hospital community for making World Blood Cancer Day so meaningful. You're all bloody legends!

28/05/2026

Today is World Blood Cancer Day, and there is something you can do to help. If you're aged 17 to 35, sign up to the Aussie stem cell donor registry. Perfect day to do it!

TLR had the pleasure of chatting with two stem cell donors about their experiences.

We asked Abbey what went through her head when she found out she'd be donating stem cells to her mum Maggie.

Her answer? "Let's do this."

No hesitation. No second thoughts. Just a daughter who knew what was at stake and stepped up.

Not everyone has a match in the family who can donate. That's where you come in. Be a legend. Like Abbey and Mitch.

Sign up here: https://stemcelldonors.org.au/about/partners/tlr-foundation/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbi8fjFmFEo

TLR was lucky enough to get two stem cell donors in the room to answer some questions. In this video, Mitch asks Abbey what went through her mind when she fo...

25/05/2026

Charles is 20 years old. He flew from Canberra to Sydney, had a cannula put in each arm, and sat in a chair for five hours donating his stem cells to a complete stranger.

He didn't even tell most of his friends he was doing it.

TLR had the pleasure of interviewing Charles while he was donating, which definitely helped pass the time.

Read his story here:

A stem cell donor story from 20 year old Charles. He donated to a stranger and had a lot to say about why the registry needs more diversity.

21/05/2026

TLR is ridiculously proud to announce our first Nurse Practitioner Scholarship recipient, Elise Toyer.

Elise is a haematology nurse at Blacktown Hospital, and she's building something special. She's already completed her Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing. Now she's going further. She's a powerhouse!

This scholarship exists because of the people who fundraise for TLR through events like the City2Surf. Here's to many more.

Click here to read Elise's story here

Meet nurse practitioner scholarship recipient Elise Toyer. She's transforming haematology care at Blacktown Hospital with TLR's support.