A BLACKPOOL cancer survivor, who has just clocked up his 12th Great North Run fundraising for Cancer Research UK, met a North West politician along with Cancer Research UK scientists in Manchester recently to talk about the importance of life-saving cancer research.
Clive Barley, 68, from Lytham St Anne’s, who was treated for bowel cancer in 2003, met Jeff Smith the MP for Withington, Greater Manchester, to hear about ground-breaking research at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, based at The University of Manchester, and the recently-opened Manchester Cancer Research Centre building – a partnership between the charity, The University of Manchester and The Christie.
During the visit, Clive learnt about cancer imaging technology and the development of new cancer drugs, as well as the clinical trials which are helping to ensure that discoveries made in the lab are translated into the best treatment for cancer patients as quickly as possible.
Clive, who has raised more than £10,000 for Cancer Research UK through a series of marathons and half marathons and is a volunteer Campaigns Ambassador for the charity, also spoke to the MP about his campaigning work.
He said: “I enjoyed meeting Jeff Smith MP to talk about my experience of cancer and why I feel research is so important. I also got to meet Cancer Research UK scientists and see some of the important work being done in the North West. It gave me an extra incentive to get round my 12th Great North Run in aid of Cancer Research UK!
“I also had opportunity to tell the MP about my role as a volunteer Campaign’s Ambassador for Cancer Research UK and about our latest campaign to extend TV junk food advertising restrictions to 9pm as a measure to tackle children’s obesity.”
Jeff Smith said: “Cancer has a devastating impact on families in the North West so it was fantastic to hear and witness first-hand the innovative work Cancer Research UK is funding locally. The visit highlighted exactly why we must continue to support the vital research taking place in our region – research that will ultimately benefit the thousands of people affected by cancer each year.”
In the North West, over 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year*.
Matt Davies, Head of Public Affairs at Cancer Research UK, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the institute’s local MP to see the value in investing in research.
“Half of people diagnosed with cancer now survive, but half is not enough. At Cancer Research UK, we are working to accelerate progress so that 3 in 4 survive cancer by 2034. In order to achieve our ambition it is crucial that the Government continues to encourage and support research.
“Whilst we receive no government funding, political support is vital to ensure our work can continue to lead to ground-breaking discoveries that will benefit patients in the North West and beyond.”
Last year, Cancer Research UK spent over £23 million on research in the region. In Manchester, Cancer Research UK is focusing particularly on lung, skin, gynaecological and blood cancers, as well as personalised medicine, radiotherapy, molecular pathology, screening and prevention.
Professor Nic Jones, Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, said: “I was delighted to welcome Jeff and Clive to both the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and the Manchester Centre Research Centre building.
“The city is on the frontline in the fight against cancer with hundreds of scientists, doctors and nurses striving every day to find better, more effective and kinder ways to treat this devastating disease.
“It was fantastic to be able to showcase some of their work, which is amongst some the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research, and their efforts to ensure that more people in the North West and across the UK survive.”
To find out more about how to support Cancer Research UK, please visit: cruk.org
