The Cancer Research donation collection in Swan Walk has made a phenomenal start. 550 bags have so far been collected. At an average £30 per bag this is making a huge contribution to achieving the charity’s target.
The partnership between Cancer Research and Swan Walk is now in its 10th year during the course of which it has made an astonishing £150,000. All you need to do is to collect a bag from the Donation Station fill it with clothes, homewares, books and CDs, then pop it back when next shopping in Horsham. The donation stand remains open in Swan Walk until 13th May.
This isn’t of course the only way to help Cancer Research. Over the past 20 years, more than 8 million women have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s “Race for Life”, raising over £547m. This includes the 5k in Horsham Park which will take place on 3rd June.
In the 1970s, less than a quarter of people with cancer survived. But over the last 40 years, survival rates have doubled and Cancer Research’s ambition is to see three-quarters of people surviving the disease within the next 20 years.
Their focus is in four key areas – working to help prevent cancer, diagnose it earlier, develop new treatments and optimise current treatments by personalising them and making them even more effective.
It is impossible to refer to early diagnosis without recognising how awful the Commons statement was this week on breast cancer screening. It was heard in absolute silence – rarely have I known the Chamber so sombre. Due to an error made more than a decade ago – but not spotted until now - some 450,000 women aged 68 to 71 who should have been invited for their routine screen have not been. The dreadful implication is that people may have died of a cancer that should have been detected.
Women who are registered with a GP and have been missed off the 68-71 screen should receive a letter before the end of this month. However, if you are not currently registered with a GP or are in any event concerned, there is a helpline to call on 0800 169 2692.
Photo caption: With the Cancer Research Team celebrating their 10 year partnership with Swan Walk. Star of the show was Ellie-May (in the “0”), herself a Cancer survivor, who opened the stall.