We are pleased to tell you that we have been very busy over the past six months and managed to raise over £37,357 in the last financial year. We are grateful to all the runners and helpers who turned up for our annual Fun Run and helped raise £11,628. A special thank you to Karen Cartlidge who raised £4732,44 in memory of her friend Pete. Thank you to everyone who helped at the Elizabethan Market which raised £157.00. We are also very grateful to Judy Hurst for making cards and selling them on our behalf and to Horace Jukes who raises money by selling some of his paintings. We wish him a Happy 90th birthday!
A huge thank you to all the committee members who are working hard to raise such a huge amount of money. Finally, we would like to thank Françoise Hancock who has been with us for many years and is now moving out of the area. We will miss her and are so grateful to her for her hard work with the tombola and for being part of the committee.
Since the above was written, we have been delighted to learn that the son of our long serving Secretary, Sue Knoll, will be running the London Marathon next year in aid of Blood Cancer UK.
SPECIAL REQUEST FROM NICOLE
You are all aware of my motivation for raising money for this worthy cause. As a committee, we find it harder to raise money but mainly to get people to help us out. I am so grateful to all of you who have for the past years been there.
Do not worry, I will still be here in the years to come, but we are desperate for everyday help. You do not have to join the committee, although, if you are free, would be grateful. We have meetings on Zoom 5 times a year.
You do not have to do much. As I previously mentioned, it could be finding places to put tins in the town and collect money. This can be done anytime. We are very short of prizes for tombola or raffle. Let your friends know our need.
I find it difficult going round all the shops or clubs in Bromsgrove and elsewhere, to put some posters advertising our events.
The fun run is an event which could do with more publicity, so if you do have any idea on the matter, know someone who would sponsor us, please do contact me
MORRISON COLLECTION 6th SEPTEMBER
We will be using buckets rather than tins and now have access to a card reader as we are aware that not everyone carries cash anymore and it may be easier to get a donation. If you are free anytime on that day, please contact Nicole nicnoelharris@aol.com
QUIZ NIGHT FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER
This will take place at the Avoncroft Arts Centre at 7.30pm. Teams of 4 at £25 per team. Bring your own drinks and refreshments. Steve, our quizmaster, and his family will be present again. Contact Nicole on nicnoelharris@aol.com
CURRY EVENING FRIDAY 7th NOVEMBER
We will be having another Curry Night at Dine India in Catshill at 7.30pm. The cost of the meal is £25 per person and includes a choice from 3 starters and 3 mains, with rice and naan bread as well as a dessert. Dayl has also organised a fantastic raffle for the evening. Contact Nicole asap on nicnoelharris@aol.com
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Blood Cancer UK is now selling Christmas cards. I am waiting for a link to send to show you the stock. You will then be able to contact me to place an order.
GREETINGS CARDS
Judy Hurst is selling some greetings cards at Avoncroft Museum, sending us the profit she makes from her sale. If interested, you can buy them at the shop.
TOMBOLA ITEMS
We have used up 400 tombola prizes and will need to replenish our stock for the Fun Run next year. A lot of those unwanted presents you may have, raise a great deal of money for our branch. Now that the children are on holiday and whilst doing some clearing out, you may find something which would be of use to us. We also would appreciate some raffle prizes if you have any.
BOTTLES WANTED
We always need some bottles for our raffle prizes. It doesn’t have to be alcoholic; we can raise money from anything you give us.
TINS IN PUBS OR SHOPS
If you can put a collection tin in your shop or pub, do let me know. I do not have much spare time to go and look for new places such as cafes to ask but this would be greatly appreciated. A great deal of money can be raised that way.
RESEARCH NEWS
New research shows a common diabetes drug may prevent aggressive leukaemia
Research from the University of Cambridge shows that metformin, a widely used and affordable diabetes drug, could prevent a form of acute myeloid leukaemia in people at high risk of the disease. The leading scientific journal, Nature, published the findings. Blood Cancer UK funded the work with additional funds from Cancer Research UK, and the Welcome Trust.
Stem cell transplant research breakthrough gives hope to those with blood cancer
Blood Cancer UK-funded researchers at the University of Birmingham have identified a key target, CD70, to reduce the likelihood of ‘graft-versus-host disease’ (GVHD) which people with blood cancer can develop after receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant. The research, published in Blood Advances, suggests that graft-versus-host-disease could one day be detected and treated.
Late-stage Hodgkin lymphoma drug available for use on the NHS
Today (April 2), drug regulators in England shared that adults with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have access to a new treatment. They approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in combination with other therapies for routine use on the NHS in England.