300 attended match-day launch staged by the One Thousand Trades Group
A matchday lunch event at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club raised more than £10,000 for Cancer Research UK (CRUK), organisers confirmed today.
The ‘Mud, Sweat and Cheers’ event, attended by 300 people, took place in the club’s Reddings Suite as its first XV suffered agonising 24-25 defeat to visiting Leeds Tykes, who nudged ahead by a single point in the dying stages of their National League 1 clash.
Tackling cancer is the focus
The focus of the occasion, tackling cancer, was sombre, albeit balanced by upbeat accounts, including by surgeon Andrew Beggs, Professor of Cancer Genetics & Surgery at the University of Birmingham, on pioneering medical advances that are helping save lives.
- Donate to Cancer Research UK here: www.justgiving.com/page/mudsweatandcheers-cruk/
Professor Neil Hanley, the University of Birmingham’s Medicine and Health Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Medicine and Health, said: “At UoB, we are tackling the modern-day challenge of cancer in its many different forms as a top priority.
Thank you from UoB’s life sciences chief
“This includes comprehensive funding streams from Cancer Research UK when it can be all too easy to measure research importance by corporate multimillion-pound sums.
“Saturday at Moseley is a reminder to all of us who we are really accountable to. This is about people’s lives, their stories and their generosity. It’s humbling and inspiring. Thank you to everyone involved.”
Improved patient outcomes
Attending Saturday’s event was Professor Jason Parsons, Director at Cancer Research UK and Head of Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham, who said: “The fundraising from this Cancer Research UK event is important for supporting our cutting-edge research at the University of Birmingham within the Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences.
“Here we are making significant breakthroughs into understanding how cancers develop at the molecular level, and to design treatments such as targeted radiotherapies, that can kill cancers in a more effective and safe manner, leading to improved patient outcomes.”
Making cancer a thing of the past
Professor Paul Cadman, chief executive of the One Thousand Trades Group, which organises the half-yearly occasion, said: “Sadly, cancer will affect one in two of us at some point in our lives.
“Loved ones, friends, family members … as things currently stand, at some point someone each of us knows will be impacted.
“Cancer Research is supporting the ongoing effort to consign cancer to the dustbin of history.”
Winning formula: rugby and socialising for a great cause
He added: “Once again, we were stunned by the strong turnout of business people from across the West Midlands region.
“Catching up with friends and colleagues at a rugby game to support a cause like Cancer Research UK is a winning formula, particularly in Moseley Rugby Club’s stunning Reddings Suite, which is the perfect venue for event like this.”
Former Leicester Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions rugby player Tim Stimpson compered the event, firing up the crowd to bid on various auction prizes and sharing insights from his time at the top of his sport.
Among those attending was Deputy Lord Mayor Ken Wood, who drew applause for his prediction that London would soon be “a suburb of Birmingham.”
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK fund scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner, as well as providing cancer information to the public: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us
