Fullers London Pride 10k Family Walk and Fun Run (From Your Local Guardian)

Fullers London Pride 10k Family Walk and Fun Run

4:13pm Tuesday 31st May 2011 in Your Say

Who would you walk 10km for?

Fuller’s London Pride 10K Family Walk and Fun Run encourages local support Sunday 19th June The 16th annual 10km Fuller’s London Pride Family Walk and Fun Run will take place on Sunday 19th June in support of Cancer Research UK with all funds from this event going directly Hammersmith Hospital, part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Organisers are hoping to encourage more people than ever to participate to raise funds through sponsorship and to walk for someone they know who has suffered from cancer. Everyone will be issued with a sign to wear on their backs where they can acknowledge this person(s) they will be raising funds for.

The route follows the picturesque Thames path over Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridges starting and ending at the Griffin Brewery. It is hoped that families, friends and participants of every age group will take part. The route is buggy friendly and dogs are welcome too. Walkers and runners are all required to pay £5 to enter. Registration can be either online or by phone: http://Supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/fullerslondonpride2011 Tel: 0870 602 040 Judith Kowalczyk, Chairman of the organising committee, explains why they want to offer people the opportunity to make a personal tribute by taking part this year: “Regrettably cancer affects every family in some way. We know that most people who take part in the annual Walk and Fun Run here in west London do so because they are personally touched by the impact of cancer. And many affected have been treated locally at Hammersmith Hospital. We are providing back signs so that people can write the name of the person they are supporting if they choose.”

“Last year Cancer Research UK funded approximately £7m along with Imperial College Healthcare Trust of which Hammersmith Hospital is part and undertakes groundbreaking research.” Judith continues: “We want to beat the £32,000 raised through last year’s event to support this invaluable work and to help save lives.”

The event starts at 11am and the 10km can be completed as a swift run, an easy jog or a relaxed stroll. Afterwards there will be many attractions in Homefield Park next to the brewery. Participants will be greeted at the end with a complimentary drink from sponsors Fullers. An organic BBQ is planned, massages for aching limbs, live music and lots of stalls and fair-like attractions. Scientists from Hammersmith Hospital will be there on the day to explain a little more about their research and will be extracting DNA from strawberries to demonstrate some of the techniques used.

Professor Charles Coombs from Hammersmith Hospital comments: “We are so very grateful to the local people who take part in the Walk and Fun Run. This year their support is more important than ever as the current harsh economic climate is resulting in cuts affecting the work of Cancer Research UK. We are working on an exciting range of areas of research at Hammersmith: • Understanding why some cancers become resistant to drug treatment (for example in breast, lung and ovarian cancers) • Developing and testing new treatments; how breast cancer cells respond to chemotherapy drugs and monitoring and treating breast cancers as they spread particularly to the bone. Looking at ways to improve survival of people with small lung cancer through the use of For more information visit: http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/events/charity-walks/Fullers-London-Pride-10K-Family-Walk-and-Fun-Run-2011 ends For images and media inquires contact: Hannah Sheedy hannah.sheedy@cancer.org.uk www.cancerresearchuk.org Notes to Editors Tours of the research labs at Hammersmith Hospital are available by appointment. Contact Hannah Sheedy at Cancer Research UK t: 020 7242 0200 About Cancer Research UK * Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

* Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.

* Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.

* Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.

* Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org Based on information supplied by Emma Robinson.