Fundraisers hail £35k gift to cancer research
ATEAM of local fundraisers has raised a recordbreaking £35,000 for charity North West Cancer Research – more than doubling last year’s fundraising totals.
The Southport-based fundraising committee has worked tirelessly throughout the year organising an exciting calendar of events.
Highlights include an afternoon tea event, fashion show, a Chinese banquet evening and several coffee mornings.
Additional funds were raised by friends and family of the committee who completed various fundraising challenges, such as a sky dive from 10,000ft and a mammoth swimathon which covered the equivalent distance of swimming the English Channel three times over at Victoria Leisure & Fitness Centre.
All money raised by the North West Cancer Research Committee supports life-saving cancer research projects at nearby University of Liverpool.
Committee chair Olive Cutts met with North West Cancer Research President Michael Potts, who accepted the cheque for £35,000 at its annual Christmas coffee morning.
The event kick-started 2017’s fundraising drive, raising more than £1,200 and attracting 100 guests from the local area.
Olive Cutts said: “It has been a wonderful year. I can’t believe how generous everyone has been over the past 12 months.
“Their kind support and donations will spur the committee on to make next year even more successful – although £35,000 will take some beating.
“On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank everyone who attended our Christmas coffee morning and making it another successful event.
“It was a great way to say thank you to our supporters for their continued and generous support.
Research which has been supported by the efforts of the Southport volunteers, includes the use of proton beam therapies to treat head and neck cancers, the development of effective skin cancer drugs and a first of its kind clinical trial for patients with bile duct cancer.
North West Cancer Research has committed to funding more that £13m of research over the next five years – £8.1m of which spent on local projects.
Cathy Scivier, CEO, North West Cancer Research said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Southport fundraising committee.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in their generosity and for their continued support year after year.
“Without the vital work of our local fundraising committees, such as Southport, we would not be able to sustain or fund the world-class research projects which directly benefit people living in the region.”