We are glad to say that we have been very busy this past six months and have managed to send £18,621 to Blood Cancer UK. We are not raising as much money as we used to but considering the economy and the break we had to take from fund raising during Covid, we are very pleased with this achievement. We are grateful to all the runners and helpers who turned up for our annual Fun Run and helped raise £12,850. After a two-year break, we are slowly getting more participants but the numbers are still low compared to pre-covid times. We were able to restart our quiz at the Court Leet and raised £672.  Thank you to everyone who helped at the Elizabethan Market which raised £303.  We were able to help with the Walk of Light at Cannon Hill Park and thanks to Martyn, Chris Stuart, and Harry Singh, we raised over £3000 for our branch.  Finally, we also would like to add that our thoughts are with Clare, a former committee member, who lost her dad recently to blood cancer.  

 September is not far away, and we have prepared a few events for you to enjoy. 

MORRISON COLLECTION FRIDAY 28^TH JULY

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 that way. We took over £80 from cards at the last collection, so this is well worth having. If you are free anytime between 3 and 5 on that day, please contact Nicole nicnoelharris@aol.com 

QUIZ NIGHT FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER

This will take place at the Court Leet (Hungry Horse) Worcester Road Bromsgrove at 7.30pm.  Teams of 4 at £25 per team. Steve and his family will be present again. Contact Nicole on nicnoelharris@aol.com

CURRY EVENING FRIDAY  10^th NOVEMBER

We will be having another Curry Night at Dine India in Catshill at 7.30pm. The cost of the meal is £22 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. 

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. So 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. 

PERSIAN RUG

We have been donated a very dark blue rug. This is brand new and was worth £98 but would accept any reasonable offer for it.  Just contact nicnoelharris@aol.com Measurements: 120 X 180.

TINS IN PUBS OR SHOPS

If you are able to put a collection tin in your shop or pub, do let Sue know and she will let you have a tin. A great deal of money can be raised that way 

RESEARCH NEWS

Targeting tumour stroma could improve immunotherapy response in those with lymphoma

Researchers at King’s College London have shown how specific cells known as ‘fibroblast cells’ in lymphoma tumours suppress the body’s immune cells and immunotherapy treatment. The Blood Cancer UK funded work highlights the potential of harnessing these fibroblasts to help rejuvenate the body’s immune cells (T-cells) using novel immunotherapy drugs. The scientific paper, the Journal of Clinical Investigation published the results.

Blood cancer drug trial results in better outcomes than those on best-available existing medication

A drug, ruxolitinib, has been found to be better at treating the blood cancer – polycythaemia vera (PV) than the best currently available treatment. Researchers looked at how well the drug worked in those who don’t respond well to the first line of treatment in a randomized phase-II clinical trial. Blood Cancer UK funded the work through the Trials Acceleration Programme.

Research suggests drug improves stem cell transplants for those with multiple myeloma

Researchers in the US have shed light on a way to carry out stem cell transplants in people with multiple myeloma more efficiently, using a drug called motixafortide. The scientific journal, Nature Medicine, published the findings, today (Monday 17 April).

We’re delighted to be funding 16 new research projects

We are delighted to announce funding for 16 new research projects across the UK, worth over £4million. The projects span all types of blood cancer and bring our total funding portfolio to 74 different research projects across 23 different institutions in the UK.

We hope that you have all stayed healthy since our last newsletter and would like to wish you a Happy New Year for 2023.

We would like to thank everyone for their kind donations at Christmas. We must mention Horace Jukes who raised over £500 by selling some of his paintings for our charity and also £110 which was donated in memory of Colin Benfield  We are also grateful to the helpers who took part in  our Morrison collection which raised £608.32! It was so nice collecting again and the public made us feel so welcome.

We were able to organise a curry night again and were delighted to raise nearly £340.  We are now looking into organising a quiz night in a hall instead of being online.

Remember, if your company is choosing a charity of the year, think of us! As you may have read in the press, a lot of successful research is being done at the moment. Every pound raised does make the difference.

Blood Cancer UK  has an open line for anyone who is undergoing any treatment or who would like to speak confidentially with the support services team on 0808 2080 888

FUTURE EVENTS

TESCO COLLECTION REDDITCH 28^TH JANUARY

We have been given a collection on the 28^th January and we are still looking for collectors on the day! Nicole has been contacting collectors but we are still short of helpers from 1.00 till 4.00. If you can help, please email Nicole.

RUN 50 IN FEBRUARY

1st Feb 2023 – 28th Feb 2023You may wish to organise your own event. You only need to run (or walk) 50 miles in the month.  You may contact Nicole or events@bloodcancer.org.uk  Any money raised for the Bromsgrove branch will be credited to us.

QUIZ  NIGHT MARCH/APRIL

After being online for two years we are presently looking for a different venue as the number of participants may be limited at Avoncroft. Steve and his family will be present again.  As soon as we have found our venue and date, we will contact you with further details.

WALK OF LIGHT MARCH 25^TH at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

This is a 2.5km or 5km night-time walk to light the way to beat blood cancer. Collect your free lantern upon arrival and become part of the light spectacular!

Join in with activities before your Walk of Light begins at 7pm and hear from our exciting line-up of speakers Share your reasons for walking in memory or in celebration of your loved ones and meet other like-minded walkers. Celebrate with your finisher’s medal and hot drink in the event village. Raise £50 and you’ll receive your Walk of Light T shirt which is only available to Walk of Light participants. The suggested arrival time will be around 6pm and the walk will begin shortly after the sun sets around 7pm. There are 2.5km and 5km routes to choose from with both accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Cannon Hill Park is accessible by public transport and there is limited car parking on site.

https://bloodcancer.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising-events-and-challenges/sports-challenges/walk-of-light/

If you are able to help on the night or simply take part, let Nicole nicnoelharris@aol.com  know as any money raised from you will then go directly to our branch!

FUN RUN MAY 14^TH

Our annual Fun Run will take place at Bromsgrove Rugby Club and will consist of a 10k and a 5k race. All runners will receive a medal and all fundraisers with £30 sponsorship will get a T-shirt. The 5k route, which can be walked, follows the canal towpath for some of the route so children must be accompanied by an adult. The 10k is more challenging and attracts runners from a wide area. The run will be using chip timing. We would like to stress that the event is limited to 500 runners so do not wait to register.  You can do this online on

https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/pz6bi1gc/f/blood-cancer-uk-bromsgrove-fun-run

We have changed our registration system, so you will not receive a pack as in previous years but an email with all information and you will need to collect your number and chip on the morning of the race. Remember to be present at least an hour before the race as we do need to take you to the start at 10.50. You will also receive your t shirt on the morning of the race if you have raised the minimum amount needed.

Should you be able to help please do contact Nicole.

UNWANTED GIFTS

When clearing up after Christmas, should you have any items which could be useful for our tombola or raffles, please let Nicole know as we are very short of items.

NEWS FROM BLOOD CANCER UK

As the year draws to a close and we begin to wrap up for the festive break, the regional team have naturally been looking back and taking stock. 2022 has been a year of much incredible fundraising as we have emerged from the pandemic, and we can all be proud of how our community has come together and what we have achieved.

Despite the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis, our community has continued to thrive and, collectively, you have raised an incredible £1.7 million in 2022.

This is testament to all your hard work over the past 12 months and we could not be more proud or grateful enough for all that you have done. From bucket collections to golf events, from Walk of Light to fun runs, you continue to go above and beyond to make sure we can beat blood cancer.

And it is because of your support that Blood Cancer UK  could fund the research by the brilliant Prof Waseem Qasim that led to a significant, life-changing breakthrough.

Alyssa, 13, was diagnosed in 2021 with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare type of blood cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, there were no further suitable treatment options for her, so she enrolled on this new early-stage trial for leukaemia and became the world’s first person to receive a new type of CAR-T therapy. Just 28 days after, Alyssa went into remission. Six months on, and she’s still doing well at home with her family.  We’re absolutely overjoyed for Alyssa, and excited about this new approach.

We can only fund innovative research just like this and save more lives just like Alyssa’s because of your support. Thank you for all that continue to do, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside you and support you in 2023.

THANK YOU!

Our latest online quiz night has raised a total of £270, thank you to all participants for your generosity.

We are delighted to announce that entry for our 2023 Fun Run is now open, we are expecting the event to be very popular this year so would recommend registering early to avoid disappointment!

You can book your place through the following link:

https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/pz6bi1gc/f/blood-cancer-uk-bromsgrove-fun-run-2023