Variety of events planned to aid research into the disease that is diagnosed 20,000 times a year in Wales alone
CANCER Research UK is one of many organisations hosting fundraisers and events for World Cancer Day this year, including its branch in Cowbridge.
The internationally-recognised day takes place annually on February 4. It aims to inspire communities to unite against cancer and raise money for charities.
In Wales, more than 20,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year – that is one person every 30 minutes.
Over the upcoming week, many charities, communities, and individuals are raising and donating money.
Upcoming fundraisers
This year, Cancer Research UK hopes to raise an ambitious target of £200,000 through people supporting and donating to their local charity shops and taking part in fund-raisers.
The Cowbridge branch hopes to raise £500 this week, which will help contribute to lifesaving research.
Samantha Griffiths, 52, shop manager at Cowbridge Cancer Research UK, said: “We started our six-week fundraising campaign on January 4, and we will continue in-store until February 18.
“This time, our volunteers came together to donate items into our Pamper Hamper, and we also received some chocolates from Tesco to contribute to it.
“We’re hoping to reach £500 for World Cancer Day and we’re already halfway through.”
She added: “I would like to say a huge thank you to the community and our volunteers for their continued support.”
To support the charity, those interested can purchase a £2 Unity Band from the Cowbridge branch or any other Cancer Research UK store. There will also be a raffle at the Cowbridge branch to win their Pamper Hamper. Tickets are £1 each.
Volunteers are also urgently needed at Cancer Research UK branches.
Alan Parker, 44, Professor of Translational Virotherapies at Cardiff University School of Medicine, often volunteers at the Cowbridge shop.
His research is supported by a programme grant from Cancer Research UK, which focuses on training viruses to infect and kill cancer cells.
“As a cancer researcher developing new therapies to tackle this devastating disease, I am hugely grateful for every single pound raised. Each donation takes us a small step closer to better understanding this disease and using this knowledge to deliver new agents and trials to help more people beat cancer,” said Professor Parker.
“This World Cancer Day, I will be donating to several worthy cancer charities and remembering my own mother, lost too soon to this disease.
“I’d like to thank everyone who donates to Cancer Research, as well as those fundraisers who work tirelessly to ensure that cutting-edge research, such as that being performed in our own laboratory, can take place.”
Upcoming events in South Wales to support cancer charities
- Cardiff Firewalk
Tenovus Cancer Care and supporters will bravely walk over a bed of red-hot embers while barefoot to raise money for World Cancer Day.
Registration is £20 per person along with a pledge to raise at least £100. Each pledge will go towards helping five people who have been diagnosed with cancer and are unable to work as a result.
The event will take place on March 4, at 6pm, in Insole Court, Llandaff.
There are only 100 places. If interested sign up here.
- Walk of Light – a virtual walk wherever you are
Hosted by Blood Cancer UK, members of the public can create a route to walk wherever they are based. Entry is free and there is no minimum sponsorship, but anyone who reaches over £50 will receive a free T-shirt as a thank you from the charity.
The virtual walk will take place on March 26, 2022.
Sign up here.
- Cardiff 10k 2022
A 10k walk through Cardiff, which aims to “walk the distance to beat cancer,” will start at 7.30pm from Cardiff Castle on October 7, 2022.
The entry fee is £14.99 per person, and funds will help Cancer Research UK support people battling cancer. Participants can also select the type of cancer they wish to raise money for.
Those interested can sign up here.
