A message from

"A huge thank you you to everyone who participated in the Irish  Challenge 2010 and raised over £50,000 for Cancer Research UK’s life saving research".

 "We need people like you just as much as every one of our 4,000 doctors, scientists and nurses who work tirelessly to beat cancer.Most people are not aware that we receive no government funding for our research so without our supporters we simply wouldn’t save lives.  Although cancer affects many people, the picture is getting so much better today. Thanks to research we know more about cancer and how to treat it than ever before. Compared with 40 years ago, cancer survival rates have doubled, and it’s our doctors, scientists and nurses that have been at the heart of this progress.Over the past 40 years the chances of children surviving cancer has tripled and survival rates have risen from 25% to 75% today, so you can see what this progress means to thousands of families right across the UK. We’ve also seen great advancements in cancers like breast and testicular. Survival rates for breast cancer have doubled and today almost two thirds of women will survive breast cancer for 20 years or more. Today 97% of men who are diagnosed with testicular cancer will survive. These success stories simply would not have been possible without research.  Unfortunately these kinds of success stories do not hold true for everyone. There are some cancers like oesophageal and pancreatic cancer where progress has been much slower and outcomes are much poorer.  Today alone, over 800 people will be diagnosed with cancer and of these sadly half will not win their battle. We want to see the day where every one of those 800 patients who hears the words “I’m sorry...it’s cancer” also hears the words “you’re going to be ok”,and we won’t stop until we reach that day.  Thank you for your support".

As well as Cancer Research UK, a broad range of charities and charitable causes have received contributions from CAC.

In 2009, the main supported charities were MacMillan Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK as well as all the myriad of charities chosen by teams and individuals.  The 2010 and 2011 main supported charities are Cancer Research UK and The British Heart Foundation.  100% of the sponsorship raised by the teams is distributed to charities and below is a list of some of those that have benefitted as main supported charities.

• Cancer Research UK
• National Asthma Campaign
• Alzheimer's Disease Society
• Childline
• Wessex Heartbeat
• NSPCC
• Leukaemia Busters
• Jubilee Sailing Trust

Participants are also able to nominate their chosen charities.  In 2010 the following charities have been supported:

• Tony O’Connell Founders Fund
• Marie Curie Cancer Care
• Braille Without Borders
• Salisbury Hospice
• Wessex Autistic Society
• Lindsey Lodge Hospice
• Integrated Diabetic Foot Care/The Ear Foundation
• Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections
•  Julia’s House
• Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, Worthing/Tony O’Connell Founders Fund
• Cancer Research UK
• Kick Asthma for Kids
• Weldmar Hospicecare Trust
• Rowcroft Hospice , Torquay
• Derby Kids Camp
• Hants & IOW Air Ambulance
• Naomi House
• Countess Mountbatten Hospice
• Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children
• Chinakidz
• Integrated Diabetic Foot Care/The Ear Foundation
• FORCE
• Marlow Opportunity Play Group
• Wessex Heartbeat
• SOS Children’ Villages
• DebRA
• Aim for Change
• Dorset Scope
• Help for Heroes
• Muscular Dystrophy
• British Kidney Patient Association
• Lewis Manning Hospice
• Wayne Howard Trust
• Osteoporosis
• Rose Road
• Wessex Heartbeat
• Hampshire Autistic Society
• Fred Ridges Foundation
• Isabel Hospice
• Pseudomyxoma Research Fund
• British Heart Foundation
• Cerberus Explorer Scout Unit
• Manchester Fire Service
• Holcroft House Care Home, Southampton
• White Ribbon Alliance
• Oracle Trust
• St Michael’s Hospice
• Stroke Association

 Total raised so far     £2,775,536