Yorkshire Inner Wheel clubs raise over £4,800 for pioneering blood cancer research project
Posted on 8 November 2017
Fundraisers from across Yorkshire have presented researchers at the University of York with a cheque for £4,812.06 towards a unique research project into blood cancers.
Inner Wheel clubs throughout Yorkshire have been busy fundraising for the blood cancer research charity Bloodwise over the last year, with events ranging from coffee mornings and raffles to pig races and an Icelandic dinner.
District Chairman Jennifer Angus chose Bloodwise as their Charity for 2016-17 after the grandson of a member of her local Inner Wheel club in Otley Chevin was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer at just 18 months old.
All of the money raised throughout Jennifer’s District Chairmanship will directly support a Bloodwise funded project at the University of York that is providing a detailed picture about the causes of blood cancers, who they affect and how they are treated.
The Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN – www.hmrn.org) collects detailed information on all people diagnosed with blood cancer in Yorkshire and uses this to provide high quality information about these diseases that is typical of the UK. Working with doctors and nurses across the study area, HMRN is helping to answer questions about how people respond to particular treatments and which treatments are likely to bring the best outcomes. Throughout the year, Jennifer has visited the clubs within her district to raise awareness of blood cancer and the work of Bloodwise.
Jennifer said: “Bloodwise’s aim is to ensure that everybody affected by blood cancer survives through ‘the right treatment-for the right person-at the right time’, and with their research partners work tirelessly towards this. It has been an honour and a privilege to help in some way. Inner Wheel strives to make a difference and I hope that our donation helps towards that aim for Bloodwise.”
Eve Roman, Professor of Epidemiology from the Department of Health Sciences, at the University of York, says “We are absolutely delighted to accept this donation and appreciate the time and effort Jennifer and the Inner Wheel group have dedicated to raising this money. HMRN was set up in 2004 and is producing evidence to ensure blood cancer patients receive the best possible treatment. We plan to use the donation to part-fund a research nurse to work within one of the hospitals in the study area.”
To find out more about HMRN and Bloodwise please visit: www.bloodwise.org.uk/research/hmrn