Volunteers
The Caring Cancer Trust, its non-animal research programme and its associated Alpine Healing holidays programme for kids with cancer, is wholly managed and run by dedicated unpaid volunteers.
This means more of your donations go directly to help Cancer sufferers and their caring families, and to fund groundbreaking Cancer research.
How can you help?
If you are interested in fundraising for Caring Cancer Trust's Research or Healing Holidays programmes, you can set up your own sponsorship page at VirginMoneyGiving.
Patron: Dr Ian Hampson PhD.
In Ian Hampson, Head of the Oncology research laboratories at Manchester University St. Mary's Hospital, we are blessed with a Patron who takes a close interest in all our work and is always ready to offer us advice and support - he has even been known to don a Caring Cancer Trust tabard and volunteer as a fundraiser outside his local supermarket store!
Our Patron writes:
The debate on animal testing in medical research is extremely controversial due mostly to the wide spectrum of viewpoints on this subject. For example, there are the infamous extremists who carry out illegal forms of terrorism in the name of this cause and which actually do more harm than good. Indeed it is quite clear that this type of activity will polarise the viewpoint of most of society against their beliefs.
There is a strong case to be made however for restricting animal testing to the bare minimum and finding ways to eliminate it altogether, and that is the underlying principle of the Caring Cancer Trust.
I am glad to say that the Medical Research Council, The Home Office, The Wellcome Trust and several large multinational drug companies now support the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction (NC3R's) of the use of animals in research. Clearly there are real concerns over this practice and Caring Cancer Trust are in the forefront of the campaign to eliminate animal tested research altogether for both moral and scientific reasons.
The development of new human organ and tissue culture laboratory methods provides a viable alternative to animals for early stage testing of new cancer therapies. Indeed it can be argued that they are frequently more accurate as it is undisputed that many prospective cancer drugs which work well in animals, do not work in humans. It is important to realise that this new technology is not based on human embryo stem cells but rather the culturing of human cells obtained with ethical consent from adults.
Ian Hampson
Patron: Damian Norman
Damian Norman, Managing Director of Vos Media Ltd, the organizers of the London and Manchester Ski & Snowboard Shows, the London Outdoors and Bike Show and the Vitality Show, was a prime mover in the initial concept of an Alpine Healing Holidays programme for kids with Cancer. Since that date in 2009, he has been an indefatigable fundraiser for the programme and inspiration to CCT volunteers, organizing and leading sponsored Bike rides from London to Brighton and London to Paris.
Patron: Jenny Jones
British Snowboard champion and X Games gold medallist, Jenny is the Charity's popular Ambassador and Patron for our VOS Alpine Snowkids Project. She spends time to be with our Snowkids on our Alpine Healing Holidays, teaching them to snowboard.
Patron: Graham Bell
British Olympic skier, Graham is one of the best skiers this country has ever known. He is is the anchor presenter on BBC TV’s Ski Sunday and covers winter sports for BBC Grandstand and Eurosport. He gives time to be with our Alpine Healing Holidays group and coach them on the slopes. He and Jenny bring charisma and energy to the Children recovering from Cancer, inspiring them with self-confidence.
Hon Chairman & Party Leader: Chris Ody
Chris Ody has been organising and leading groups of physically disadvantaged children on recuperative ski holidays and cultural summer events for many years. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2010 and together with his wife Cathy leads our Alpine Snow and Summer Adventure groups of children recovering from Cancer. Chris is an accomplished skier and enjoys mountain trekking and biking. He teaches at Ryde School, Isle of Wight.
Deputy Chairman: Don Haver.
Don Haver is a retired City bank executive. Registered blind for the past 12 years, 79 year old Don has recently recovered from cancer himself. He is an indefatigable fundraiser,leading children in sponsored white water rafting exploits andswimmingmarathons.
VOS Alpine Snowkids and Summerkids Team:
Chris and Cathy Ody (Party Leaders); Keith and Louise Ventin, (Party Leaders); Sarah Gill (Nurse Carer), Helen Lee (Nurse Carer), Dean Mackenzie and Jon Newlyn,(Ski Instructors), James Darlow and Annette Dahl (Snowboarding Instructors); Darren and Samantha Woodley, (Summerkids Programme Organizers); Angus MacWatt, (Marketing and Communications); Paul Storey (Hon Treasurer and Promotion); Ian MacWatt, (Administrator); Ruth Corfield, (Programme Coordinator).
Charity Shop Supervisor: Amy MacWatt.
Amy MacWatt has managed the Charity's shop on the Isle of Wight for a number of years, running the shop's support programme for in-patient children at paediatric oncology hospital wards and local cancer sufferers.
VOS Alpine Snowkids Sponsors:
Snowfox Holidays, Oxygene Ski and Snowboard School, The Great Escape Morzine, Skiers Edge, SAP, Skiset, Ski4Cancer, One Dead Pixel, VOS Media, Avis, Gallery Midnight, Swissair
A word from our sponsors:
Untitled from angus macwatt on Vimeo.
