THE Rotary Club of Pakenham has made the academic life of one university student easier and contributed to medical research with a $17,000 grant.
PhD student LauraJane Oluich was thrilled to receive the scholarship from the local community group and will embark on a threeyear course researching the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The 23yearold Glenhuntly resident will undertake the course at the Howard Florey Institute at Melbourne University.
Pakenham couple Ron and Sylvia Cameron donated the money to the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, which in turn selected Ms Oluich for the grant.
Mr Cameron was a Rotarian for 34 years and left a substantial amount of money for medical research after his death in 2004.
Pakenham Rotary president Lyn Squires said the club was delighted to help out both Ms Oluich and medical research at the same time.
“The Rotary Club had raised funds for MS in the past and a number of our members have relatives with MS, so when the research fund suggested that the club become involved with their PhD scholarship program and help Laura, we were happy to oblige,” Ms Squires said.
More than 15,000 Australians suffer from MS. Researchers are yet to discover a cure for the deliberating condition, which randomly attacks the brain and spinal cord.
Mr Cameron’s bequest has helped fund several other medical programs, including mental health research projects.
