What is UCARF?

As a Ulysses member do you wonder how to respond when someone asks you “What is this UCARF thing?”

I know that quite a few of you will be able to answer it comprehensively, however, just to ensure that we are all aware of what the Ulysses Club Inc.’s preferred charity is here is some information.

UCARF – Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund –

was formed in 1997 when our founder Stephen Dearnely’s #1 proposed that our Club adopt Rheumatoid Arthritis Research as our preferred charity. This was unanimously accepted.

Stephen’s wife, Jo, lost a 20-year battle with rheumatoid arthritis.

A specific UCARF bank account holds all funds raised. The UCARF Coordinator in conjunction with the National Treasurer manages research sponsorships directly with the relevant institutions. This means we can guarantee 100% of all funds raised are spent directly on Rheumatoid Arthritis research.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis:

is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints and can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and damage. It can also affect the heart, lungs, skin, eyes, mouth and nervous system. 

It can be totally debilitating and over time it erodes your bones causing severe pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility.

It currently affects 514,000 Australians each year.

What do we do with the funds that our members raise?

Over the years the Ulysses Club Inc. has donated close to $500,000 to research – a great effort. Well, done Ulysses members!!!!

We are currently (2026) funding three researchers at universities in Vic, NSW and QLD to the extent of $62,000 per year for the next three years. A total of $186,00 with 100% of the funds that we give to the universities must be spent on research.

At the Clinical and Molecular Medicine at Monash University in Victoria, we sponsor a PhD student, Bailey Slyp to undergo research on finding a safe medicine for the treatment of RA. See article on our webpage by Link Button below.

At the Facility of Medicine at Queensland University, we provide a PhD top up scholarship for a researcher working on developing a new curative treatment for RA.

At the Sutton Institute at Sydney University, we provide funding for the researchers working under Professor Meilang Xue who are working on understanding the causes behind the disease and then developing means to correct this.

The researchers believe that they are very close to breakthroughs. The results of the research also have implications for other inflammatory diseases such as lupus, blood cancers and asthma to name just a few.

How are funds raised?

Across the country local branches fund raise – some run raffles, others BBQ’s, others Toy Runs, etc. and donate the proceeds to UCARF.

Individual members make donations to the UCARF account:

BSB: 062-517 Account number: 1078 6075 Account Name: UCARF

In the eastern states and WA, we can donate via the Cash a Cans program. In WA contact Ken Eaton ken@ucarf.com for info on how to do this. In the eastern states download the appropriate app and select UCARF as the donate to. Contact Lyn Tout secretary@ulysses.com for more information.

United Fuel – donates 2c per litre to UCARF on any fuel purchased using the United App – you also get 2c a litre off. Check out how to download the APP on the Ulysses website – documents – UCARF – flier with QR code.

Ride for Rheumatoid – 2025 saw the Inaugural Ulysses Club Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Ride.

The ride left from the Monash Research Centre on Sunday 16^th March and travel via Geelong – Ballarat – Bendigo – Echuca – Shepparton – Albury – Wagga – Canberra – Wollongong – Sydney – Newcastle – Port Macquarie – Tamworth – Armidale – the site for the National Rally.

The purpose of the ride was to promote the work of the Ulysses Club Inc in Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and to raise funds along the way.

How were members/riders involved?

Join the ride – either for the full ride ($100 per rider, $100 per pillion) or one day or part thereof ($20 per rider, $20 per pillion)

Find someone who is doing the ride and sponsor them – either one off donation or per KM.

Help your branch if you are one of the stops – we will have raffles, etc at each stop, ask your branch.

Further info: Robert Hunt the Ride Coordinator  manufacturers@ulysses.org.au

Ride for Rheumatoid 2027 To Rally HQ in Bathurst.

The 2027 Ride for Rheumatoid is in the very early stages of planning, stay tuned after this year’s AGM in Nambour, for details of how you can become involved in the 2027 ride

Coordination of UCARF

Previously we had one UCARF Coordinator for the Club – Ken Eaton, who along with Ted E did a great job in promoting UCARF and managing the UCARF website www.ucarf.com however it is a huge job.

 In 2026 Ken stepped down as Coordinator and Cheryl Mahedy has accepted the role of National UCARF Coordinator and Ambassador for NSW, along with along with a dedicated team of State Ambassadors in WA – Ken Eaton, Victoria – John Harkin, ACT – Janet Mulgrue and QLD – Roslyn Rees

The UCARF Coordinator will work closely with the State Ambassadors to ensure that we continue this great work. The NatCom member will also liaise with the universities to ensure that the funds are being used as per our agreements.

Helping our Ulyssians with RA

I know that we have members who have contracted this disease and think it is fantastic that the assistance UCARF has provided to research is helping our members have access to much better medicine and support than was available back in 1997 when Number One had the vision to propose the establishment of such a fund. He would be proud of what has been achieved.

Well, there we go – next time someone asks, “What is this UCARF thing?” You will have lots to tell them. This may also help you know how to help in raising the funds to keep vital research going and hopefully in the very near future find a cure for this insidious disease that can affect anyone of us.

Keep the shiny side up and I hope to see many of you in Armidale at the Rally.

Lyn Tout #42397
National Secretary
On behalf of the National Committee.