Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb joined forces with a dedicated cancer campaigner from Aberconwy to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ambition to help more people survive.
Guto met Rick Beardmore last Wednesday to find out the part he could play in helping to achieve Cancer Research UK’s ambition that within 20years three in four of all cancer patients diagnosed will survive at least ten years.
Guto Bebb MP said: “It was a pleasure to meet Rick and listen to his story, he is a very interesting guy and a great advocate for the charity, whose pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is helping to save millions of lives. It is vital that we continue to support their work and do everything we can to help beat cancer sooner.”
There have been major advances in the fight against cancer over the last 40 years and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
Two in four people diagnosed with cancer today in the UK will survive their disease for at least ten years, compared to just one in four in the early 1970s.
In Wales, this means that around 9,000* people each year can now expect to survive the disease for at least ten years.
But despite the successes, Cancer Research UK believes much more can be done to help more people in Wales and across the UK beat cancer sooner.
Rick, who is from Llandudno Junction, was one of over 100 Cancer Research UK Ambassadors who came to Westminster in early July to meet their MPs and highlight the importance of parliamentary support to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Rick said: “I’m really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action, because I know that this is a great way to help make a difference.
“I feel passionate about supporting Cancer Research UK’s work. So many people are diagnosed with cancer and it’s vital that we do all we can to help save more lives.
“Members of my family have been affected by the disease and this is why I wanted to volunteer my time and lend my voice to support the charity’s work.”
He continued: “It was great to meet my MP Guto Bebb and discuss my reasons for becoming a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador and why early diagnosis matters to me personally. Cancer Research UK is making huge progress but we need the help and support of MPs like Guto to help more cancer patients survive.”
Rick urged Mr. Bebb to write to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP and to the Welsh Government Minister for Health Mark Drakeford asking them to back measures to improve early diagnosis, including public awareness campaigns and increased participation in the bowel cancer screening programme.
For more information on how to get involved in Cancer Research UK’s campaigning work, visit cruk.org/campaigns
*There are around 18,100 people diagnosed with cancer in Wales each year. Using predicted 10 year survival data for England and Wales for patients diagnosed in 2010 we estimate that 8,997 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.