Love Hope Strength @ Britain Against Cancer
Love Hope Strength UK was present at the Britain Against Cancer Conference 2014 that took place in Central Hall Westminster on December 10th. Britain Against Cancer is hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC), and is one of the largest conferences of its kind in the UK and is an annual fixture in the Westminster calendar.
LHS UK had an exhibition booth and LHS volunteers were able to interact with delegates from the entire cancer community of Britain. It proved to be a very useful forum for sharing ideas and innovations and a great platform for helping LHS get it’s message of Love Hope and Strength to the nation. In attendance were Mike and Jules Peters along with Lydia Franklin, Steve Webster, Dave Spragg and Andy Labrow.
The highlight of the morning session was an impassioned speech from the Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, who opened up the session to questions from the floor. Mike Peters was chosen to ask the first open question and asked Mr. Burnham if he would help LHS to get it’s message about the need for marrow donors to the nation and help the country at large understand how simple and painless it is to become a marrow donor today especially with the new age bracket of 17-55. Mr. Burnham was very supportive and met with Mike for an informal chat on his way back to the House Of Commons. Mr. Burnham has pledged to help further LHS initiatives in order to promote the ‘Get On the List’ campaign.
After Mike’s question in front of the delegates the LHS booth was inundated with people wanting to sign up to the list having only just become aware of the increased range of 55 offered through the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s partnership with Delete Blood Cancer.
The afternoon session featured a speech by the Secretary Of State For Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, followed by further opportunity to chat with other delegates including Orin Lewis OBE who is the founder of ACLT (Afro Caribbean Leukaenia Trust), and also Ian Dickson and Alan Kilpatrick of Scottish charity ‘Friends of Beatson’ which is affiliated with The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.
It was a great opportunity for LHS to discuss future plans for 2014 and to build on the success of 2013. LHS UK has registered over 3,000 people to the list from rock concerts and events in the UK this year and we were also informed by LHS USA that concerts involving our very own Mike Peters have now resulted in three life saving matches.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Love Hope Strength, especially in the UK this year, climbing Ben Nevis and Snowdon… Sponsorship monies continue to flow in and once the final figure has been established for monies raised, LHS will be in contact with each and every one of you with an update and personal thank you.