Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, today gives her backing to the Beatson Pebble Appeal as the charity takes to the airwaves to raise more support for cancer research.

Throughout the day, Scotland’s leading radio stations including Radio Clyde, Smooth Radio and Classic FM Scotland, will run Beatson Pebble Appeal adverts which ask cancer survivors, their family and friends to take part in its Let’s Beat Cancer survey.

Beatson fundraisers say the experiences and insights of cancer victims will help them in their next phase to raise £10m to build the Beatson Translational Research Centre in Glasgow.

Nicola Sturgeon Karen Vousden

Ms Sturgeon said: “One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, but in Scotland we’re making progress in cancer treatment and research. The work of the Beatson Institute in Glasgow is critical to this scientific progress – work that focuses on translating advances made in the research lab into practical benefits for patients.

“The experiences of cancer survivors, patients and their loved ones will help shape their work in future, so I would urge everyone who can to take part in the Let’s Beat Cancer survey.”

Members of the public whose lives have been touched by cancer can share those experiences - in confidence - with the Beatson Pebble Appeal by simply logging on to cancersurvey.org to complete an online survey or phoning 0800 681 6626 to request a survey pack (from Monday).

The Beatson Translational Research Centre will turn scientific breakthroughs into drugs and new treatments for patients.

Professor Karen Vousden, Director of the Beatson Institute, said: “The new development will play a key role in our ambitions to bring together basic and clinical research, contributing to the creation of a co-ordinated cancer research centre and help us develop our discoveries into successful treatments for patients.

“I am very pleased to say that we have passed the halfway mark having raised £5m - with the support of the people of Scotland I am confident we can realise our fundraising goals.”

Chief Medical Officer, Harry Burns, after a recent meeting with the Pebble Appeal team, also pledged his support: "I am very pleased to be supporting the Beatson Pebble Appeal.  The new centre will provide a world class environment in which to bring together basic and clinical research, attract world class researchers to Scotland and will ultimately help scientists develop their discoveries into new treatments for cancer patients in Scotland and beyond.”

Sadly, more people suffer from cancer in Scotland than in any other part of Europe:
• 41 people in Scotland die every day because of cancer
• 27,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Scotland
• 1 in 3 Scots will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime

The Beatson Pebble Appeal is at the forefront of the battle against cancer. It hopes to raise £10m to build the Beatson Translational Research Centre which is the final element in the creation of the Glasgow Centre for Cancer Research.

This centre will convert basic cancer research into real improvements in treatments for patients.

It will focus upon especially common tumours, those that cause the most deaths in Scotland such as endocrine (breast, prostate and ovarian); smoking related (lung, throat, oral) and gastrointestinal cancer.

For further information on the Beatson Pebble Appeal please contact Eleanor Cowie, Media Relations Officer on telephone: 0141 330 3683 or email: e.cowie@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 18 September 2009

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