Walk the Way for Cancer Research

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN FOR KERRY WAY CANCER RESEARCH WALK

The organisers of The Kerry Way Cancer Research Walk recently launched details of this year’s event and have announced that online registration is now officially open on event website www.kerrywaycancerwalk.ie.   

All information regarding The Kerry Way Cancer Research Walk can be accessed on this user friendly site, which also allows for easy event registration and keeps event costs to a minimum.  There is plenty of information and guidance regarding the walk routes, fundraising, accommodation, training, etc.   

The Kerry Way Cancer Research Walk is a 70km three day fundraising event that has gone from strength to strength raising nearly €300,000 for cancer research in the past four years. 

The 2009 event was a tremendous success with over 260 walkers, from counties around Ireland as well as from France, Hong Kong, Switzerland and the UK, braving inclement weather last year to make a positive impact on cancer – and raise an astounding €91,000. 

The event goal this year is to raise €100,000 for cancer research programmes at Cork Cancer Research Centre.    

The Kerry Way Cancer Research Walk will take place from Friday, 23rd July to Sunday, 25th July 2010 and participants can walk one, two or all three days.  The three days of guided walks will start and finish each day in Kenmare and will incorporate impressive mountain views, dramatic peaks and glens, wild moorlands, wooded paths and lakes along the Kerry Way and Beara Way trails.

Friday July 23rd          Tahilla to Kenmare                                         22km

Saturday July 24th      Moll’s Gap (via Black Valley) to Kenmare     26km      

Sunday July 25th        Glengarriff to Kenmare                                  22km

Past supporters of the event include Sean Kelly, Daithi O Se, John McHenry, and adventurer Pat Falvey.  Pat Falvey commented about the event:  “Cancer affects so many people, through their own journey or through someone they know.  Taking on cancer is a daunting challenge which requires focus and determination, elements which are also needed for facing other challenges in life such as climbing Mount Everest.  However the greatest challenges cannot be achieved alone - it is the team supporting you that will help you get through.  Just like our team for Mount Everest, the Cork Cancer Research Centre provides focus and determination to the challenge of bringing new treatments to cancer patients.  I’m delighted to be involved in this event and to lend my name and support as part of the fundraising efforts for cancer research, and to help combat cancer.”  Uniquely 100% of all sponsorship collected by walkers goes directly towards cancer research. All walkers cover their own costs; event organisation and marketing costs are kept to a minimum and are covered by sourcing gifts in kind from companies as well as through other fundraising activities leading up to the event.  Without the assistance of the walkers, organising committee members and supporting companies, this event wouldn’t take place and it would not be possible to raise vital funds for cancer research and impact the lives of those affected by cancer.   

So why not plan a nice activity break as well as raise money for a worthy cause.  Cork Cancer Research Centre needs your support. Walk with purpose and you’ll be aiding research into cancer’s prevention and treatment. 

To register your interest for this year’s event and secure your place, please complete the online registration form today. Participants enter on a first come first served basis and entries will close on Friday, 2nd July 2010 or once the event participation limit is reached for health and safety reasons. 

Alternatively contact the Development Office at Cork Cancer Research Centre on 021 490 1437.  

If you would like to make a difference in the fight against cancer and contribute to the researchers vital work, donations are gratefully received and can be lodged into The Kerry Way Cancer Research Walk account – AIB Bank, Sort Code: 93-01-21, Account No: 01302795.   

Why Is Cancer Research Important?        

1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

The number of cancers diagnosed in Ireland is expected to double by 2020.

 An increase will occur in almost all cancer types, mostly as a result of population ageing, but also as a result of an increase in underlying incidence rates for most cancers. 

Cancer Treatment As It Stands Today:

Surgery remains the only treatment option most likely to lead to long term survival for patients diagnosed with early stage disease.        

Pharmacotherapy provides brief and unpredictable responses in patients whose disease is diagnosed at a more advanced stage… the majority of patients fall into this category.        

Once a tumour has metastasised to secondary locations, the chances of a curative treatment drop significantly. 

About Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC)Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) was established in 1999 as a collaboration between the Cork University Hospitals and University College Cork and was officially opened by the Minister for Health, Mr. Michael Martin in 2000.  CCRC acts as a foundation upon which inter-disciplinary research programmes are built.  We have initiated, and continue to encourage, the interaction of scientists and clinicians with complementary skills and the Centre provides infrastructural resources and facilities to researchers focused on combating cancer. Since its inception, CCRC has been active in developing new treatments for cancer patients through research focused on providing tangible benefits to those most in need of breakthroughs. Cancer research at the Centre is focused on oesophageal, breast, colon, kidney and leukaemia cancers and is directed at four different themes: Cancer Prevention, Cancer Cell Biology, Drug Delivery Systems, and Cancer Gene Therapy / Immunology. The progress and success at the Centre has been through the scientific and personal collaborations that the CCRC has established with groups both in Ireland and internationally. In 10 years we have grown from two to over 30 researchers and staff engaged in cancer research at the Centre,  under the direction of Prof. Gerald O'Sullivan, with laboratories and offices located at the Mercy University Hospital and the Biosciences Institute, UCC. The scientists, nurses and clinicians have proven their research meets the highest international standards, as evidenced by their publication record (120 peer review publications). Funds for the Centre are generated through research grants, voluntary fundraising efforts and private donations. However, more important than all of this, is how the CCRC has been able to directly and positively impact the patients who are currently afflicted by this disease. The research work carried out at the Centre since its inception has translated into three unique clinical studies, two focused on using less invasive surgery to treat inoperable cancers, and a third on the impact of diet and probiotic bacteria to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. The Centre has been at the forefront of advancing cancer prevention in Cork by initiating a screening programme for patients at high risk of developing colon cancer, which it is hoped will aid in the earlier detection and possible prevention of this cancer.  To date there are over 600 such patients identified and placed on the database for regular screening. The Drug Delivery Research team, using the novel therapy called Electrochemotherapy, has demonstrated greatly improved treatment of cancer nodules previously unresponsive to radio- and chemo- therapies. Over 85% of the cancers treated have responded positively to this groundbreaking treatment, which essentially uses a small, safe pulse of electricity to make cancer cells more permeable and receptive to a simple and effective drug therapy that the body otherwise would deflect. The treatment therefore provides an extremely effective localised treatment to solid tumours without the side effects of a more systemic chemotherapy regimen. The next phase of this research, currently underway, is the application of this therapy to internal cancers, such as the oesophagus, bladder or colon. Now that we are a decade in existence we are channelling our expertise and experience to tackle the most important challenge yet: Developing innovative and effective strategies for the control of secondary cancer spread (metastatic disease). Our ambition is to find a cure for this key component of the disease. We are excited that our most recent results using gene and immuno- therapy have shown great promise in getting the body's own immune system to target tumour cells and prevent secondary spread from that tumour. Our ability to detect micro-metastatic cells, even in bone marrow, means we can be more confident that we are able to track the development of secondary cancers in the body. Our Cell Biology team has identified important mechanisms which allow cancer cells to evade death and we are at the forefront, internationally, in identifying new ways these cells can be targeted for destruction. It is these recent developments that will most likely lead to the treatments that will greatly improve the longevity and quality of life for cancer patients. The progress and impact of Cork Cancer Research Centre has prompted individuals and companies to provide significant financial support (nearly €4 million) to our mission. The application of our research to clinical reality continues to be our primary motivation. "Meaningful contribution to the development of novel anti-cancer treatments continues to be our ambition and it is important that the direction of our research remains applied. Thus we will not become emotionally removed from those afflicted by cancer and ensure it is the patients and families who will benefit from our research endeavours."   Prof. Gerald C. O'Sullivan, Centre Director.  

How Your Support Helps Our Research

Cork Cancer Research Centre supports over 30 doctors, scientists and nurses working on developing improved treatment options for cancer patients. Our scientific spend in 2007-2008 was just over €1.5 million.  Carrying out research into cancer is expensive and below are just some examples of the difference your support could make:

€600 could pay for a person at high risk of developing colorectal cancer to participate in the cancer screening study in the Mercy University hospital - this service we believe helps to save numerous lives through early detection every year.

€1,000 is the cost of having a gene array analysis carried out for a cancer patient.  This aids in identifying abnormal genes that may be responsible for causing cancer.

€10,000 to purchase a Cancer Cell counter. This equipment is used in the lab to speed up experiments where scientists need to count the number of cancer cells present in a vial.

€15,000 would cover the cost of running a clinical trial for over four months, for example looking at a new approach to treating malignant melanoma and the follow up care on the patient that is required.

€35,000 could cover the average cost of funding a PhD student for a year, including the chemicals and equipment they need.  These talented young scientists are the future of cancer research.

€60,000 could buy a bench-top ultra speed centrifuge – an essential piece of laboratory equipment, used on a daily basis by our scientists.

€100,000 could allow for the development of a new endoscopic device that can treat colorectal cancer and lead to its testing in a phase I clinical trial.

€150,000 could buy a piece of equipment called a DNA sequencer, which could help identify potential new cancer genes.