Support pancreatic cancer awareness

Call for locals to get involved in purple campaign

A Cambuslang woman who is at the forefront of raising pancreatic cancer awareness in Scotland is hoping even more locals can get involved with her cause.

Fiona Brown lost her mum to pancreatic cancer in March 2003 and became involved in raising awareness after reading an article in the Reformer in 2013.

She is now development manager at Pancreatic Cancer Scotland .

With November 1 being the start of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Fiona said she wanted to thank the many people who had helped raise money throughout the years.

She said: “People are starting to talk more about pancreatic cancer, but there is still a huge amount to be done. I became involved with raising of awareness of pancreatic cancer after reading an article in The Rutherglen Reformer in December 2013 about the stark statistics of the disease, often referred to as ‘the silent cancer’, and I was concerned that a cancer I was once told was rare was no longer the case.

“There is a lovely community of amazing people who all want to help change the pancreatic cancer story and Reformer readers have helped play a part in this – from supporting petition appeals, sharing stories and raising funds, every bit helps and progress is starting to be made.”

Since becoming involved, Fiona and her team have helped secure a debate in parliament and successfully campaigned for a potentially life-saving drug to be made available in all parts of the UK.

She also highlighted the work carried out by residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

This year alone, Donna Sutherland raised £2,500 by bungee jumping off the Titan Crane, Joe and Amanda Bower raised nearly £1,500 by doing the Great Scottish Run 10K and Paul McCarrol held a fundraising night at the Burnside Hotel, raising £10,400 for one of his best friends, whose husband has been diagnosed with the disease.

Also helping out has been Rutherglen Rotary, who handed over a cheque to Fiona recently for £1,000 and former Reformer editor, Kenny Smith, who lost his mum to the disease and helped run an awareness stand at the Glasgow Fresher’s Fayre.

The highlight of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is major buildings across the globe turning purple to raise awareness, while World Pancreatic Cancer Day will be on November 16.

Fiona added: “The purple lights campaign is a great initiative supported by various charities – it gets people talking about why buildings are lit purple – which leads to them talking about pancreatic cancer.

“By raising awareness and sharing the symptoms and risks of the disease and the need for earlier detection we can work towards improving the survival rates. One of the key things I tell people is that I have met survivors of pancreatic cancer and it’s important for people to know that with early diagnosis and optimal treatment that there is a higher chance of survival.”

To contact Fiona about ways you can support please contact 07949 812 351.