Blue Mountains News

For Christmas 2025, Garry Sims is again rallying the community to support kids with cancer, inviting people to donate items or funds to support Kids with Cancer Foundation’s Care Packs initiative.  

In the lead up to Christmas 2024, Garry Sims rallied the Blue Mountains community to donate items to fulfil 300 Care Packs – which were delivered to children undergoing cancer treatment at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, The Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick, and children’s hospitals all around Australia. 

This is just one of the many initiatives Garry Sims has been involved in to support kids with cancer over a number of years. And his continued commitment to supporting these vulnerable members of society has seen Garry Sims appointed as a Community Ambassador for Kids with Cancer Foundation. 

CEO of Kids with Cancer Foundation, Todd Prees said: “Garry Sims first became involved with Kids with Cancer Foundation in 2021 as a personal fundraiser – raising $5,520 by shaving his head. Since this time, his impact has been extraordinary. His dedication to raising awareness about the more than 1,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year, his hard work in organising fundraising initiatives, and his creation of this incredible, annual Blue Mountains Care Pack donation drive have made a profound difference. Garry has gone above and beyond, and we are deeply honoured to recognise his outstanding commitment to uniting communities in support of some of our most vulnerable - children diagnosed with cancer." 

Community Invited to Donate 

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Sims is inviting the community to get involved and show they care by dropping off donation items for Care Packs at Katoomba Police Station.Donations of funds can also be made online, with just $20 funding one Care Pack delivered to a child undergoing cancer treatment. 

"I firmly believe that communities need connections, and that the police can play a role in fostering community connection and support," said Detective Chief Inspector Garry Sims. "My efforts in the community are to bring people together for a common cause, celebrating the success of working together to achieve something good." 

Bringing Christmas Joy to Kids with Cancer 

The donations will support Kids with Cancer Foundation’s Care Packs program, which delivers weekly packages filled with snacks, entertainment items, and personally written cards of hope to children with cancer undergoing treatment at children's hospitals around Australia. 

The Christmas Care Packs are even more special, bringing joy and support to children and families during the festive season—a time that can be particularly challenging for families with young children going through chemotherapy and oncology treatment.  

"When I was looking for a charity that supported children, Kids with Cancer Foundation was a standout," said Garry Sims. "Their comprehensive approach—providing financial support for families, funding children's hospitals around Australia, supporting research and clinical trials, the Wigs4Kids program, and the Care Packs initiative—showed me an organisation truly committed to supporting children with cancer and their families from every angle. The evidence of the work they do inspired me to want to be part of their mission." 

Police as the Heart of the Community 

With over 40 years of service in the NSW Police Force, Detective Chief Inspector Sims exemplifies a policing philosophy centred on genuine community engagement and connection—particularly when it comes to supporting those facing life's greatest challenges. 

"I see an important policing role and responsibility is to engage with the public, in addition to our primary role of law enforcement," said Detective Chief Inspector Sims. 

Throughout his policing career, Detective Chief Inspector Sims has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of cancer on families and communities. 

"In the community, I have responded to many instances where people have lost a loved one due to cancer," he said. "I have seen the devastation that it causes individuals, families and the community." 

This experience inspired him to take action, teaming up with Kids with Cancer Foundation in 2021 and continuing to support with new initiatives every year.  

"The overwhelming response from the community on hearing about the plight of the one thousand children diagnosed with cancer every year, and that together with Kids with Cancer Foundation we can truly make a difference, provided the encouragement to do more," he said. 

Inspiring the Next Generation of Police 

Detective Chief Inspector Sims sees his community work as having a dual benefit—helping those in need while also inspiring junior police officers. He said: "Making a difference. Also, inspiring junior police on the importance of working closely with the community and engaging with good people to show that police care." 

A resident of the Blue Mountains since the early 1980s, Garry Sims has received numerous honours including the Australian Police Medal (2015), the National Emergency Medal for service during the 2019-2022 bushfires, and the National Police Service Medal, among others. 

Beyond his work with Kids with Cancer Foundation, Garry Sims isa “Champion of Legacy” for NSW Police Legacy which supports children and widows of Police Officers, as well asmental health and wellbeing causes including R U OK? and Fortem Australia - demonstrating police officers can be powerful advocates. 

Garry lives in Katoomba with his wife, and their daughter Emily who is also a NSW Police Force member.

"While funding children’s hospitals and ongoing research is so important, the connection Kids with Cancer Foundation establishes with families and children – and the support they provide these families - is amazing," Detective Chief Inspector Sims said. "Letting people know that they are not alone, letting them know that people care, is what humanity is about, and can a huge difference. Kindness and respect. The world needs more of it." 

Todd Prees, CEO of Kids with Cancer Foundation, said:  "Community Ambassadors like Garry Sims, alongside our inspiring Ambassador figures such as Jacob Kiraz from Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and motorsport rising star Jimmy Vernon, help shine a light on the too many children diagnosed with cancer. Each ambassador brings their unique platform, passion, and personal connection to this cause, helping to build awareness and transform awareness into action. Whether through community initiatives, professional sports or other avenues, our Ambassadors unite communities to ensure that no family faces childhood cancer alone.  

“The dedication of our Ambassadors amplifies our voice, inspires others to get involved, and ultimately creates tangible support for the more than 1,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year. We are thrilled and honoured to have Garry Sims join our Ambassadors, and we are incredibly grateful for all of our ambassadors unwavering commitment to standing beside these brave children and their families during the most challenging journey of their lives." 

Learn more:To learn more about Kids with Cancer Foundation and how you can help, visit here