A Sunderland researcher who has cheered on his wife at the Race for Life events for eight years, is gearing up to take part in the event himself – for the first time.
Huw Thomas, 51, has spent 26 years working in the drug discovery team at Newcastle’s Cancer Research UK Centre.
The team specialises in identifying targeted drugs, which are highly selective in their ability to kill cancer cells. Huw works in the lab and has been involved in the discovery of rucaparib, a drug which offers a new life-saving treatment option for women with ovarian cancer who have not responded to numerous chemotherapies and whose tumours have a BRCA gene mutation.
The drug discovery team also contributed to pioneering work that led to the development of erdafitinib – a drug used to treat people with a urothelial cancer.
Huw is the guest of honour for the Sunderland Race for Life and is looking forward to completing the event for the first time, now that it is open to everyone.
Huw will be sounding the starter horn for over 1,000 participants already signed up to take part on Sunday 2 June at Herrington Park.
Huw said: “My wife Suzanne has taken part in the Race for Life for eight years and I’ve always been on the side line, cheering her on. I’ve also been interviewed on stage at the event, explaining how the money raised is used for our life-saving research.
“Now that the event is open to all, it only seems right that I do my bit and take part too. Cancer affects us all. The disease has taken my uncles, my cousin and close colleague, Professor Roger Griffin, who was the Co-director of the Cancer Research UK Drug Discovery Programme at Newcastle University.
“On the flip side, my nephew and close school friends have successfully been treated for their cancer and are still here ten years on. When I’m walking around the Race for Life track, I’ll be thinking about the loved ones I’ve lost, as well as the advances Cancer Research UK is making.”
Huw is originally from Derbyshire and came to Sunderland as a student, studying pharmacology at Sunderland University. He lives in Fence houses not far from Herrington Park with his wife, Suzanne (46) and sons Ben (15) and Max (13).
There’s still time to sign up to Race for Life Sunderland and organisers are encouraging people committed to the cause to sign up to the 5k or 10k event right now at raceforlife.org.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Jaelithe Leigh-Brown, Cancer Research UK’s Spokesperson for the North East, said: “We’re very grateful to Huw for his support and are delighted to see him taking part in Race for Life.
“By joining the Race for Life events in the North East, people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer. The Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting. You don’t need to be sporty to take part. You don’t have to train, and you certainly don’t need to compete against anyone else.”
Every hour, 2 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North East. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
Jaelithe continued: “To make a significant difference in the fight against cancer we need to harness as much energy and commitment as possible – something that the North East has in bucket loads! We need everyone in the region to be inspired by Huw and join an event.
“We’re urging mams, dads, nans, grandpas, brothers, sisters, friends and workmates to show their support by joining the Race for Life. It’s a perfect example of everyday people doing an extraordinary thing – uniting in a common cause to beat cancer.
“We encourage our participants to help raise money in what every way they like – there are lots of ideas on the Race for Life website – because this allows Cancer Research UK to fund vital research that saves lives. This includes clinical trials which give patients in the region access to the latest treatments.”
Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies on the public’s support. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £5 million last year in the North East on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
To enter Race for Life today visit raceforelife.org or call 0300 123 0770.