A generous legacy by the family of a Cleveland local will help the Leukaemia Foundation support the next generation of Australian blood cancer researchers.

Cor Frederik (10.9.1927 – 25.9.2017) was businessman, scholar, author, investor, art collector and company director with a flourishing accounting practice in Cleveland, a sea-side suburb of Brisbane. Father to six children, Cor was a strong, giving man with an altruistic heart. He believed in giving back to the community and the power of education – values he instilled in his children.

Cor lost his wife of 15 years, Pauline to blood cancer at just 33 – leaving him to raise five young children between the ages of 3-14 years old. In 2006 he established the Frederiks Foundation, and when he passed away in 2017 his children came together to honour his lifelong ethos to give generously to those less fortunate.

The family has dedicated $530,000 to the Leukaemia Foundation’s Research Endowment to support PhD Scholarships for some of Australia’s brightest blood cancer minds.

The Leukaemia Foundation said this is an extraordinary investment in the future of blood cancer research in Australia.

“It will give early career researchers the encouragement, resources and networks to generate new ideas and approaches for tackling blood cancers,” a spokesperson said.

These scholarships will be delivered in partnership with the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) – the peak body for haematology researchers and medical professionals. The HSANZ PhD scholarship program is part of the Leukaemia Foundation’s $50 million National Research Program.

Cor’s son Paul Frederiks said his father would be proud to see the money invested so wisely for a cause so close to the heart of his family.

“Dad was incredibly hardworking and never stopped learning– he worked and studied right up until his death. He truly believed in the power of education, and we wanted to honour that with this gift,” Paul said.

“Losing our mother to blood cancer at such a young age had a profound impact on all of us kids – it changed so much in our lives then and definitely influenced how we grew up and who we became.

“Donating to the Leukaemia Foundation is ensuring our mum’s legacy, and supporting the training and education of blood cancer researchers is ensuring our dad’s.

“If the advances in research we have seen in the last 30 years were around when mum was diagnosed, maybe she would be with us, or maybe she would have lived longer.

“I think dad would have been very proud of our decision to support this worthy cause.”

To find out more about supporting the Leukaemia Foundation’s National Research Program 1800 500 088 or email supporters@leukaemia.org.au.