Nottingham people are being urged to ‘fight back’ against cancer through a ground-breaking drive to fund research which could one day help cure the disease.
The John van Geest Centre, at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton campus, recently made breakthroughs in breast and ovarian cancer.
The discoveries could lead on to vaccines and cancer-attacking therapies.
Its experts are now asking to the public and businesses to join an appeal to pay for more revolutionary research.
Called 1in2 Day – after the ratio of people who will get cancer – it is being held on Friday, February 26.
The annual event involves people raising money through personal events, from cake baking to extreme physical challenges.
It has previously focused on staff at the centre and the university, but this year the public are being invited to take part and help fund more revolutionary work.
One man who knows the value of the centre is David Bailey, the university’s international development director.
He raised more than £500 for the centre in 2014 by swimming 14km (8.6 miles) down the River Thames.
He was inspired to get involved after seeing inside the centre and losing his father to bladder cancer.
“The people who run it are really on the edge, they’re really making breakthroughs,” said David.
“It’s very personal – they themselves have suffered, as everyone has suffered, losses through cancer.
“They’re very close to the disease and they hate it as much as we do. They want to beat it.”
1in2 day and how you can get involved: Everything you need to know
David’s gruelling open water swim required months of training and was put off by bad weather – but David says the feeling of having helped the centre make a difference was priceless once the swim was over.
“When you lose somebody, obviously you get very upset about it, but there’s a part of you a few years later that says ‘I’m going to fight back’,” he said.
“Am I victim of cancer or can cancer be a victim of us?
“Of course people are killed by cancer, and it happens far too often, but people will kill cancer.
“When you see these guys in the centre, that’s what they are doing – they are beating cancer.”
Another regular fundraiser for the centre is Stephen Knott, the university’s alumni and community giving officer.
Video: ‘That £5 might pave the way’: Stephen Knott
He’s taken part in dancing flash mobs on previous 1in2 Days – and says even small amounts can help scientists examine parts of cancer’s DNA and help towards solving the puzzle of the disease.
He said: “Even small amounts make a difference and who knows, that £5 or £10 might pave the way to very and exciting and effective treatment for cancer.
“Every single penny we bring in does make a real difference so please get involved.”
