MONEY raised by the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK and its supporters during the past year will fund the research work of up to five scientists for the next 12 months.
At the branch’s annual Christmas fair, at Cotherstone Village Hall on Saturday, a cheque for £70,000 was handed over to Steve Wedge, professor of stratified cancer medicine discovery at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, based at Newcastle University.
He explained the money would help fund ongoing research to discover medicines which can be targeted at a particular type of cancer.
“That means not only tumours, but who will respond best so we can have targeted trials and bring therapies through,” he said.
Prof Wedge said he was amazed by the efforts of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK, which earlier this year celebrated passing the £1million mark of cash raised during the group’s four decade history.
He added: “What we do is very expensive in terms of it being experimental, but this will fund the work of four or five people for a year. That’s a really significant thing.”
In addition to helping fund the drug discovery group, part of the money will used to support children and teenagers suffering from cancer. Once again, dozens of events were held across the dale during the past year to support the Teesdale branch.
These ranged from a sunflower competition and group treasurer Brenda Thwaites going vegetarian for a month to the annual ball staged by Butler and Gee, which this year added £8,700 to the cause.
There were darts, dominoes and football fundraisers along with social events and collections, plus a number of legacies.
Secretary Pam Ashmore thanked supporters for another good year.
“People in Teesdale are very generous.
“They keep coming back year after year. The support we get is amazing.”
She thanked all venues for allowing fundraising events to take place along with the businesses which display and sell Cancer Research’s Christmas Cards.
