Stonegate Pub Company’s Spartan Chariot Race raised over £61,000 for Cancer Research UK and has funded vital work that will save millions of lives.
The money raised from Stonegate’s team valiant effort in the Spartan race, which saw eight Spartan chariots take to the streets of London for a five mile, two-heat race around the city, has meant that the charity has been able to fund vital trials for treatments of cancers such as leukaemia and prostate cancer.
£61k can fund an improved radiotherapy technique for prostate cancer for six months, or a trial looking for the best combination and dose of chemotherapy drugs to treat leukaemia for 6months. It could also fund a cancer nurse for a year. Cancer nurses are on hand to offer confidential support and guidance to people affected by cancer. The nurses are available every weekday and answer any questions or concerns about a cancer diagnosis, symptoms or treatment options. Currently there are only 10 cancer nurses, and they answer around 12,000 enquiries each year.
Cally Cardines, Local Fundraising Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “We are extremely grateful for all the time and effort invested by Stonegate’s staff and customers. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has raised funds towards this amazing total so far.
‘’Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and supporters like Stonegate Pub Company, without whom we would not be able to fund our research.”
Colin Hawkins, Operations Director for the South, who initiated the fundraising idea said: “We’ve all been touched by cancer in some way in our lives, so we wanted to do our bit as a division to raise money to help stamp out this awful disease. I am really proud of all the pubs that took part, they all worked so hard to raise as much money as possible and it’s incredible to hear how that money can make a difference in the fight against Cancer.”