Cancer charity has passed £1 million fundraising mark

Member of the Leamington and Warwick committee of Cancer Research UK held the event at Warwick School last Sunday to celebrate having surpassed £1 million in fundraising.

Guests heard a speech from Prof Nick James, a professor of clinical oncolcogy, who talked about his groundbreaking research into prostate cancer.

He said: “It is a remarkable achievement for the Leamington and Warwick branch of Cancer UK to raise over £1 million since you started 60 years ago.

“My vital research could not continue without the funding support I get from Cancer Research UK.”

Thanks to new therapies and better detection techniques, all supported by the charity’s funding, survival rates for prostate cancer have increased from 20 per cent 25 years ago to 68 per cent today.

Former Warwick and Leamington MP James Plaskitt, who is honorary president of the committee, said: “Survival rates for cancer in the UK have improved dramatically over recent years.

“The majority of people who are diagnosed with breast, prostate or testicular cancer now survive over ten years.

“The advance is thanks to vital research.

“But there is still a long way to go, and we plan to meet the challenges of fundraising in a tough economic climate.”

The group will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a grand black tie dinner at the Motor Museum in Gaydon next year.

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