Pledge to support Cancer Research in Yorkshire

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh is highlighting Cancer Research UK’s work in Yorkshire and the Humber and backing the charity’s bid to make the region and the UK a thriving environment for medical research.

Mary met Cancer Research UK’s doctors, scientists and supporters - including Yorkshire researchers Professor Tim Bishop from the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre - at a special reception at Westminster on Tuesday 12 July.

As well as finding out more about the cutting edge research carried out in Yorkshire and the Humber, she heard that Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding and relies on the generosity of supporters to fund its life-saving work.

Around three people are diagnosed with cancer every hour in Yorkshire and the Humber but the good news is that thousands of mums, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters across the region are alive today thanks to research into cancer.

Mary said: “I was keen to find out more about work funded by Cancer Research UK in Leeds and throughout the UK. I feel proud that research in Yorkshire makes such a significant contribution to the fight against cancer. It’s heartening to know that by supporting Cancer Research UK’s work local people could be making a big difference to cancer patients here on their doorstep.”

Cancer Research UK is calling on the Government to work in partnership with the scientific community to ensure that pioneering new research can be transferred from the lab bench to the patient’s bedside as quickly as possible.

Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, thanked Ms Creagh for her support.

He said: “Cancer Research UK is working hard in every region of the UK to beat cancer. Ninety per cent of the population live within 30 miles of a laboratory or hospital where we’re funding life-saving research, which is funded entirely by the generosity of the public.

Cancer Research UK spent over £8 million last year in Leeds on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Leeds is home to the new Cancer Research UK Centre, bringing together internationally-respected scientists with doctors and nurses at St James’s University Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. Jointly they are carrying out world-leading research to benefit people with cancer. For example, researchers at the Centre are discovering and developing novel drugs to effectively treat people with cancer.

People in Yorkshire and the Humber who take part in Race for Life make a huge contribution to this work by raising vital funds.

As the Race for Life series draws to a close for 2011, Cancer Research UK is asking participants to make all the fun and emotion of the big day count – by returning the money they have raised to the charity, where it will be used to fund research which saves lives.

To find out more about Cancer Research UK’s work and how to support the charity please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.