19 January 2010
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ON 26 JANUARY 2010 SEE BELOW:
Harrogate based, Yorkshire Cancer Research will launch its latest fundraising initiative, Symphony of Lights, in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council, and with a little help from local actor Reece Dinsdale (Coronation Street's Joe McIntyre) on Tuesday 26 January, 4pm on Leeds Road, Harrogate.
The Symphony of Lights initiative is a way of expanding the current winter lights to be found on the Stray and members of the public and local businesses will be encouraged to buy a light, a garland of lights or a whole tree of lights, in remembrance of or on behalf of a loved one, family member or special event.
Harrogate Borough Council has donated the first two trees and they will be switched on by Councillor Mrs Pat Jones, Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate and local actor Reece Dinsdale; who can currently be seen on Coronation Street as Gail Platt's boyfriend Joe McIntyre.
The popular lighting display is currently on show for five months of the year, from October to March and Yorkshire Cancer Research hopes to raise £10,000 from the initiative.
People can take part by making a one off donation of £10 for a single bulb; £100 for a garland and a dedication, or £1500 for a whole tree, a dedication and choice from a selection of colours for the tree lighting: All dedications will be placed on the Yorkshire Cancer Research website (www.ycr.org.uk) and participants will also receive certificates.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport at Harrogate Borough Council said: "We are delighted to be working with Yorkshire Cancer Research on a project that will raise money for them to continue their research and at the same time enhance the winter beauty of the Stray and the current very popular winter wonderland lighting scheme."
Sally Crerar, Head of Community Fundraising at Yorkshire Cancer Research said:" In working in partnership with the council we hope to create a symphony of lights, further boosting the attractiveness of the town and potentially footfall to Harrogate businesses.
In addition to that, if 20 more trees are lit, Yorkshire Cancer Research would receive £10,000 for vital cancer research."
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
4.00 pm, Tuesday, 26 January 2010.
Leeds Road side of
Prince of Wales roundabout.
Reece Dinsdale and the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate will 'light' the first trees in the Yorkshire Cancer Research Symphony of Light fundraising project.
Attached Photograph Reece Dinsdale. If the photograph is used please credit the photographer: Robert Workman
Contact:
Garry Cochrane, Communications Officer, Yorkshire Cancer Research Tel: 01423 877 235, Mob: 07764 951151 Email: gcochrane@ycr.org.uk or Lynee Mee, Communications Manager for Harrogate Borough Council on 01423 556022 or email lynne.mee@harrogate.gov.uk
Editors Notes:
Harrogate-based Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR), the UK's largest regional medical research charity, saw a 12.8% rise in total income for the tax year 2008 2009, taking the total raised in the year to £6,400,205.
Figures published in the YCR Annual Review 2008-09 also show that despite the UK economy battling a severe "credit crunch" the charity managed to increase its investment in research within the region to £4,207,797, which represents a 15% increase on the previous year.
The annual report can be viewed at: http://www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/about/annual_report.aspx
The scientists and clinicians, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research are among the world leaders in the fight against cancer and the charity has committed a further
£11million over the next five years to continue funding research teams across Yorkshire in their goal to find the causes and cures for cancer.
Money raised by YCR goes to:
Providing grants to relevant academic institutions
Striving to make new and effective treatments available to patients
Demonstrate the benefits of our research programme to the wider community
Fund fellowships and researcher awards for work in areas that meet YCR objectives
Communicate effectively with donors, academic and associated institutions to ensure that our achievements are widely recognised for the contribution they have made and the value they bring to those who suffer from cancer.
Yorkshire Cancer Research was formed in 1925, Registered Charity No. 516898, to fund research into the causes and cures of cancer.