A scholarship that will support nurses for generations
Raising funds for the Allan Frenkel Nursing Scholarship has now reached $190,000. This means it can become a perpetual scholarship at the University of Sydney. It’s an important moment for the Allan Frenkel Foundation, for TLR, for every person who helped make this possible, and of course for Allan’s mum Marisa and the family. It also contributes to the growth of nursing scholarships in Australia, which play an essential role in developing specialist cancer nurses.
This is the second of TLR’s nursing scholarships. It will support nurses completing the Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing year after year. Each nurse will take their learning into the care of people facing blood cancer and other serious illnesses. Their knowledge will strengthen treatment centres for many years to come.
This milestone reflects decades of generosity and belief in advanced nursing education. It’s also a moment of pride for TLR. The scholarship now stands ready to support nurses in Allan’s name. It will sit alongside TLR’s Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship to create two perpetual scholarships that will help shape cancer nursing into the future.
Allan’s story
Allan in hospital with his brothers and Steve Waugh, who visited to lift his spirits during treatment
Allan Frenkel was 17 when he found a lump that changed everything. Tests followed, and his family learned that Allan had leukaemia.
He faced treatment with spirit and humour. His family and friends remember him as the cheeky one who made people laugh and lifted others up without trying. He had a big imagination and a presence that brought energy into every room. He wanted people to feel good and cared for, even while facing uncertainty.
Allan received a stem cell transplant soon after. His family surrounded him with love. His nurses cared for him with compassion. His friends stayed close. Everyone hoped he would have more time. Despite every effort and all the love around him, Allan didn’t make it. He was only 18 years old. His passing broke the hearts of everyone who knew him, but his family carried forward the belief that his name should continue to bring light into the world.
A family choosing to honour Allan
After losing Allan, his mum and dad, Marisa and Eduardo chose to celebrate his life every year. They brought people together to share stories, remember his spirit, and honour the boy they loved. Over time these gatherings became an annual dinner, now held for 25 years.
When TLR met the family, the connection was immediate. TLR already supported nurses through a perpetual scholarship in Trace’s name and understood the comfort a lasting legacy can bring. After seeing the family’s devotion over so many years, we wanted them to have the same comfort of knowing Allan’s name would continue to help others.
The idea of a scholarship felt right. It captured their gratitude for the nurses who cared for Allan and created something lasting that would support nurses year after year.
Why nursing scholarships in Australia matter
Nurses play a central role in the treatment of people with blood cancer. They explain what is happening when families feel lost. They are beside patients during long hours in isolation. They bring calm into frightening days. They guide families through complex treatment and moments of uncertainty. Allan’s family never forgot the nurses who cared for him.
According to the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, specialist cancer nursing plays a vital role in the quality of care patients receive.
Together these nursing scholarships in Australia help build specialist skills that improve patient care for years to come.
The scholarship honours Allan’s life by supporting the people who care for others walking the same path. It strengthens cancer and haematology care for the future. Nurses who complete the Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing take advanced skills into every ward, clinic, and treatment centre they work in. Their knowledge improves the experiences of many patients and families.
Postgraduate study is demanding and expensive. Many nurses want to specialise but cannot take on the financial burden. The scholarship removes that barrier. It allows nurses to grow without carrying the cost alone. Together, the Trace Richey and Allan Frenkel Nursing Scholarships now form two perpetual scholarships that will support specialist cancer nurses for generations.
Reaching the funding goal
This milestone was reached with the help of Marisa and her family. Through their annual dinners they raised funds year after year. People heard Allan’s story and wanted to be part of the effort to honour him.
When the family connected with TLR, the fundraising gained new momentum. Supporters joined TLR’s City2Surf team. Others donated privately. Every act of support mattered.
Neil with Marisa, Allan’s mum, celebrating the milestone that will support nurses for generations
The 25th anniversary dinner brought everything together. Supporters raised the final amount needed to reach $190,000. Reaching the goal on this anniversary honoured Allan and the family who had carried his memory for a quarter century. It marked the moment a legacy became permanent.
A legacy that will support nursing in Australia
The scholarship is now ready to support nurses for generations. The funds will be transferred to the University of Sydney and invested alongside the Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship. The scholarships will alternate each year. One year will honour Allan. The next will honour Trace.
For Marisa and her family this outcome carries deep meaning. For TLR it strengthens our mission to support nurses. For the community it reflects years of standing beside a family who turned loss into something lasting and full of hope.
The scholarship will carry Allan’s story into the future. It will help nurses learn and grow. It will touch the lives of many patients and families and keep Allan’s name alive in a meaningful way.
Supporting nursing scholarships in Australia
To learn more about TLR’s nursing scholarships in Australia and the legacy they create, visit TLR’s nursing scholarships page
If you feel inspired to support future nurses, you can make a donation here.
Thank you to everyone involved. Your support has helped create something truly good in the world.