Over the years, the Ulysses Club and it's Branches have raised funds and supported various charities, both local and national.
The preferred charity of the Ulysses Club, and one that the Northern Beaches Ulysses actively supports, is the Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund, commonly referred to as UCARF.
UCARF donates funds and equipment to support the research of, and ultimately a cure for, the various forms of Arthritis. By establishing the UCARF, the Club has been able to ensure that all of the funds and equipment go directly to individuals and organisations involved in the research of Arthritis, and by doing so, effectively eliminate any dilution or wastage of funds on various administration charges. In 2009, the Ulysses Club, through Branch and Individual contributions, collected in excess of $60,000 for UCARF, and since the inception of UCARF in December 2006, a total of $193,880 has been raised.
UCARF is currently supporting world class research being conducted by the Institute of Bone and Joint Research at the Royal North Shore Hospital under the directorship of Professor Little and Professor Jackson from the University of Sydney.
Each year, the Joe Dearnley Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Branch that raises the most money, while the Good Joint Awards are presented to the Branches that combine together through fundraising ideas to contribute the most money.
Arthritis is a "bugger of a disease" as Ol' #1 would say, and UCARF's support in to the vital research of this crippling disease is a worthy cause.
More information of the work of the Institute of Bone and Joint Research is available at www.ibj.usyd.edu.au