Local runner’s marathon effort to fund breast cancer research

Press Release For immediate release: 1 February 2010 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Local runner’s marathon effort to fund breast cancer research Determined runner Professor John Fairclough from Cefn Mably, Cardiff has pulled on his running shoes to train for the Virgin London Marathon in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. The Professor of Sports and Medicine at Cardiff University will join thousands of runners at the starting line on Sunday 25 April for a second time after his wife Sheila was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. After having surgery and treatment, Sheila is now doing well. John said: “I cannot alter the prognosis of Sheila nor can any other partner of someone with breast cancer, but I felt that I would like to contribute and also allow the friends and family who want to help to have a vehicle to support Sheila and others. Therefore I am plodding the lanes around the hose in the cold and inclement weather of winter to run in the London Marathon for Breast Cancer Campaign. I cannot feel Sheila’s pain, but my discomfort as I run is my way of contributing to her support by raising funds to help to research this disease.” To help John reach his fundraising target of £5,000 visit www.justgiving.com/wantok and donate what you can. John is hosting a series of four to five course dinners cooked by a local chef using the finest wines from the cellar of a local donor and produce from specialised vendors. Local transport will be provided and Porsche have indicated they will provide door to door pick up within the Cardiff locality. The meals will be free but we would hope that guests would be prepared to donate generously to the charity. John is a well known knee and sports surgeon and is also offering to give guidance on knee or sports related issues and although the advice is free we would hope donations would be considered to the charity. If you would like more information, or a copy menu please contact John on fairoak@btinternet.com or phone 02920664110 If you have a place in this year’s Virgin London Marathon and would like to join John on Campaign’s running team, please call the Events team on 0207 749 3700 or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org. As a Campaign runner you will automatically become a member of Linford’s All Stars – a new exclusive club captained by Linford Christie, who offers supporters helpful training tips and nutritional advice. Ends Picture caption: John Fairclough Notes to editors • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • Currently it supports 112 research projects, worth over £16.8 million, in 42 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women • In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/

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