Jojo is a schoolgirl who plays basketball, loves her dogs, and reads about four books a week.
She was just eight years old when one of Burnet’s senior researchers, Dr Linda Reiling, paid a visit to her school. Linda was there to talk about malaria, and her team’s efforts to help eliminate the disease by 2030. As a budding scientist, young Jojo was fascinated.
“I wanted to help people: I don’t think people really understand how much malaria affects people, particularly in poorer countries. I think it’s something that should be solved, and I would like to help the children so they can have a good life, like me,” said Jojo.
With the help of her mum Sam, she enrolled in an extra-curricular workshop to learn more about blood science. She also started saving her pocket money so she could make a donation to the work being done by Burnet researchers.
Now 12 years old, Jojo visited Burnet in April to make her donation – the product of three solid years of saving – in person and meet some of the team and was treated to a tour of the labs with Linda. “It made me excited, curious and very happy,” Jojo says, adding that she’s now definitely thinking about becoming a medical researcher. Or a surgeon. Or a librarian. Or a dog walker.
Thanks so much for supporting our work, Jojo.
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One of our favourite things is hearing from you, our donors. Understanding a little bit about who you are, how you first came to be involved with Burnet, and what drives your incredibly generous support.
Please get in touch if you’re interested in sharing your story, we’d love to hear from you. You can call 03 9282 2221 or email us at giving@burnet.edu.au.
