A run to remember - Leeds 10k
Catch up with this year's Leeds 10k event, and browse our photo gallery.
GREGGS SERVES UP TASTY BOOST TO YORKSHIRE’S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
WHEN colleague Yaz Sahel was successfully treated for cancer, staff from the Leeds factory of Greggs, the High Street’s leading bakers, decided to cook up a special thank you for the hospital team who cared for him. They decided that half the money raised locally as part of the company’s annual Children’s Cancer Run would go to the Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.
Picture caption – Recipe for Fund Raising Success! (from left) Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal director Sheila O’Shea, former cancer patient Yaz Sahel, Louise Craven and Greggs financial controller Bruce Duncan
Yaz, who recently celebrated a 30th birthday he once feared he may not see, was on hand to present the charity with £8,000 along with colleagues Louise Craven and Bruce Duncan.
The money will go towards to centre’s £10m appeal to buy leading edge radiotherapy equipment to fight cancer; boost medical research; and create a more home-from-home environment for patients.
The centre, which opened less than a year ago, is a £220m purpose-built unit and serves a catchment of 2.6m people across West and North Yorkshire. The flagship unit is a replacement for the former Cookridge Hospital, where Yaz was treated.
A member of the confectionary department team at Greggs’ factory in Bramley, Yaz said: “Being diagnosed with throat cancer was a real shock but the care I received from doctors and nurses, as well as the support from colleagues, gave me great strength to draw upon.
“Thanks to the efforts of all those who took part in the fun run, it is great to be able to give something back by way of a thank you.”
Louise, who works as a profit improvement manager, said: “Yaz is a true inspiration and we are delighted that we have been able to support the work of a cancer centre that cares for so many people – young and old alike – from across the county.”
The money was raised at a fun run staged at Bramham Park, near Wetherby, in May. The Greggs Children’s Cancer Run is now in its 26th year
The company covers most of the expenses of the run, and volunteers from the bakery work hard to provide free lunches for over 10,000 participants each year. This allows all the money raised by the runners to go to the charity.
Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal director Sheila O’ Shea said: “Greggs continues to be a long-standing supporter of the fight against cancer and we are delighted that they have chosen to help our appeal in our inaugural year.
“They money raised will accelerate the purchase of the latest generation of equipment, whose technological advances are particularly beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment of children with cancer.”
Mother and Daughter Supporters Raise £5,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal
Friends of a mother and daughter, both of whose lives have been directly touched by cancer, have raised more than £15,000 to fight the disease. Carole Harland and cancer survivor Anne-Marie Crack organised a traditional hog roast and barn dance in their local village.
The event, held at Little Ribston, near Wetherby - which included an auction, raffle and a donated firework display - saw over 250 hungry well-wishers tucking into the feast in a bid to raise much needed funds for three charities Leukaemia Research, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.
Speaking of the event Carole said: “We were delighted with the response we had at the roast, and even more so with the amount of money we raised for our chosen charities. In all they raised a massive £15,000 which was shared between three cancer charities.
“Unfortunately cancer is something that affects us all and seeing one of my closest friends losing part of her leg to the disease as she fought it, was very difficult.”
Carole added: “If that was not enough Anne-Marie’s daughter Fiona contracted an aggressive form of Leukaemia, so they really wanted to put something back into the care, treatment and support they both received at Yorkshire Cancer Centre.
Would you like to organise your own event? Please contact us in the Fundraising Office for further information and assistance.
Leeds Irish Centre Raises £100,000 For Cancer Charity
Patients from across Yorkshire are benefiting from the latest technology in the fight against cancer thanks to a fund-raising campaign by Leeds Irish Centre.
Members and supporters of the club on York Road have raised more than £100,000 to provide the flagship Yorkshire Cancer Centre at St James's Hospital with ground-breaking radiotherapy equipment.
Picture Caption: Tommy McLoughlin, Manager of the Leeds Irish Centre (centre) and its fund-raisers present £100,000 to Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal representatives, which aims to raise £10million by 2010.
The newly purchased Vision RT machine - one of only a handful operating in the NHS – allows doctors to quickly pinpoint the treatment area using 3D imaging with unprecedented accuracy. This is vital in improving health outcomes as it enables constant monitoring of the patient throughout treatment, whilst protecting healthy tissue.
The money was raised by Leeds Irish Centre staff and its supporters taking part in various fund-raising activities including climbing Ireland’s famous 2510ft Croagh Patrick Mountain followed by a gruelling 13 mile walk the next day, an ‘It’s a Knockout” competition held with various local teams as well as a Las Vegas inspired casino night.
Tommy McLoughlin, Manager of the Leeds Irish Centre said: “We have had an overwhelming amount of support from our members and the local community with our fundraising campaign for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.
“It was particularly important to us to raise this money as the Leeds Irish Centre has a number of families that have been directly affected by cancer, so being able to donate this money means a lot to everyone involved.”
Tommy added: “We are incredibly proud to have been the first donators to the Yorkshire Cancer Centre when it opened a year ago, as the work it does for the community really is invaluable – it is fantastic to see the equipment now in action”
“The equipment we have purchased is truly life-changing as its unique patient positioning technology means the cancerous areas are treated more effectively. Continuous technological advancements such as this illustrates why the Yorkshire Cancer Centre is a world class facility, and why this appeal is so vital”
LESS MEANS MORE
A hospital worker is hoping to shed stones and raise pounds. Sarah Wood, formerly a receptionist at the St James’s Hospital - Institute of Oncology in Leeds, is slimming to raise cash for the appeal.The 23-year-old, now a clerical officer at the hospital, wants to lose four stone and collect £1,500. She said: “It really means a lot to me to be able to raise this money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal. My grandmother was given fantastic treatment for ovarian cancer over 30 years ago at Cookridge Hospital which saved her life.
“If I can raise money to help other people’s family members that would mean the world to me.” Sarah’s fundraising events will include a fancy dress bowling night and a race night.
Sheila O’Shea, Yorkshire Cancer Centre’s appeal director, said: “Sarah has been a consistently friendly face at the Institute of Oncology since it opened and she is very popular among patients.”
To sponsor Sarah, visit www.justgiving.com/sarahwood09.
For details of the £10m Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal, follow this link >