Steve's Virtual Relay 2020

NEWCASTLE RESEARCHERS 1000 MILE AT HOME CHALLENGE TO FIGHT CANCER SCIENTISTS across the cancer research community in Newcastle are joining forces to carry on the fight against the disease as part of the Cancer Research UK Race for Life at Home challenge. In these unprecedented times, members of the Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit have established ways that their life saving research into new cancer treatments can continue whilst complying with the COVID19 restrictions. In a similar manner, they continue to find creative ways to fundraise. Cancer Research UK's Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit is an integrated team of cancer biologists, pharmacologists, structural biologists and medicinal chemists who develop new, differentiated, small molecule therapies for cancer patients. Newcastle drug discovery projects have contributed to the discovery of two cancer medicines already being used to treat patients and two other drugs currently under evaluation in clinical trials. As well as their lab coats, researchers are donning trainers and bike helmets to complete a 1000-mile relay challenge to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK, all within the current rules of social distancing. The coronavirus outbreak has already affected many of Cancer Research UK’s key fundraising activities, which all raise money for life-saving research, including Race for Life Newcastle, and it has temporarily closed its network of 600 high street shops across the UK. But undeterred, the research community in the city are vowing to carry on and complete a 1000 mile relay in support of the newly launched Race for Life at Home challenge helping to raise money and inspire others to sign up. During the week commencing Monday 4th May, around 50 researchers will run, walk or cycle the equivalent distance of a circuit all five of the Cancer Research UK Drug Discovery Units. Virtually travelling from Newcastle to Glasgow, Manchester, London, Cambridge and back to Newcastle, a total distance of around 900 miles, all while observing social distancing rules. We are very conscious of the significant impact that COVID-19 is having on lives at the moment and fully appreciate that it has also caused financial difficulties for many. However, we are also aware that the pandemic has had a major impact on cancer diagnosis, treatment and research, with Cancer Research UK estimating that its fundraising income will decline by up to 25 per cent in the next financial year. We are therefore taking this opportunity to highlight our own fundraising for Cancer Research UK and the new Race for Life at Home challenge, for those who are still able to provide support or get involved directly. People can visit raceforlife.org and sign up free for ideas on how they can create their own Race for Life at Home challenge. Organisers are also inviting participants to join the Race for Life at Home community by sharing photos and videos on social media using the hashtag, #RaceForLifeAtHome. Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The charity spent over £5 million last year in the North East on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770. Join in and share with #RaceForLifeAtHome