Forty years of fundraising by cancer group

BANDING together . . . treasurer Iris Last

A LONG-STANDING team of volunteers has been praised for more than 40 years' dedication to cancer research.

Since its foundation in 1969 the group has raised in excess of £500,000 for vital work carried out by scientists on behalf of Cancer Research UK.

Currently made up of nine members, the Chadderton fundraising committee called on Oldhamers to get behind World Cancer Day tomorrow.

Of the existing team six have been volunteering in aid of cancer research for more than 20 years with the backing of regular helpers and volunteers.

Chadderton-based Iris (79), who joined 30 years ago, said: "I started out helping at a coffee morning as I thought it would be something fun to do and a chance to meet other people.

"All these years later I'm still involved. It can keep us all busy but we do get something out of it ourselves too. I get to meet lots of interesting people I wouldn't meet otherwise and to see places I wouldn't usually get to see.

"We have a lot of support from the public in Oldham too which is really nice and it is good to know we are helping to make a difference."

Coffee mornings, collections and an annual garage sale are organised and a Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser took place last year.

When the garage sale was first held 14 years ago Iris and her husband Roy opened up their back garden for the event but it became so popular they had to upsize to a school.

When the committee was founded only one quarter of people survived cancer. Today more than half will survive a cancer diagnosis for at least 10 years.

The hard work and effort of the Chadderton committee nets around £25,000 per year which funds research into better treatments for skin cancer, breast cancer and brain tumours in children.

Iris said: "Over the years we've met the scientists carrying out research in each of these areas which is really interesting. We've also helped raise money for the new Manchester Cancer Research Centre building which opened opposite the Christie in 2015. When we first visited the scientists were just about to move in and now it's buzzing with activity."

The committee has been busy distributing unity bands and collection tins around Oldham for World Cancer Day.

Baking preparations have started for a coffee morning at Healds Green Old School, Chadderton, from 10am on Saturday. The team will be at Tesco in Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, after lunch.

Local Cancer Research fundraising manager Sarah Kirk praised the team for their work.

She said: "Oldham and Chadderton committee is one of our longest standing groups. Enormous thanks to them. They're a lovely group who work tirelessly and are extremely dedicated.

"To have raised their more than half a million pounds for the charity is truly outstanding."

To volunteer email Iris or Roy at roylast@btinternet.com.