Every year, Australians pull on their favourite pair of jeans for one powerful reason: to help find cures for children’s genetic diseases. Jeans for Genes Day 2026 is on Thursday 6 August, and every dollar you donate goes directly to the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute — Australia’s first dedicated children’s medical research organisation.
1 in 20 kids is born with a birth defect or genetic disease — conditions like childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis and life-threatening metabolic disorders. That’s 12 children born every minute around the world.
For these kids, childhood can look very different. Instead of school sport and sleepovers, it can mean surgeries, daily medications and hospital stays. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Right now, researchers are developing gene therapies with the potential to treat diseases once considered incurable — and donations from people like you make that work possible.
Donate — A one-off or monthly gift funds vital research into treatments and cures for children’s genetic diseases. Every dollar counts.
Wear your jeans — Rock your denim at school, work or home on Thursday 6 August and ask friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you.
Fundraise your way — Take on the 100 Skips a Day challenge, host a Bake it Blue morning tea, walk Ks for Kids, or dream up your own idea. Schools, workplaces and community groups are all welcome.
Shop — Grab official Jeans for Genes merchandise and wear your support all year round.
Your donation supports the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute, who have been leading children’s health research for more than 65 years. From gene therapy breakthroughs to a deeper understanding of rare diseases, your generosity helps turn “incurable” into “curable” — so sick kids can get back to simply being kids.
Whether it’s the price of a coffee or a major gift, your donation brings us closer to cures. Join thousands of Australians supporting Jeans for Genes Day 2026.