Saturday 27 October 2012

It's been a while...

Writing has taken a back seat of late. Baking has taken over with a vengeance - every day a flurry of flour, a cloud of icing sugar and a sauna of a kitchen. Take Thursday for example - 72 cupcakes, 18 Halloween themed fairy cakes and the mother of all Devils Food Cakes. Both ovens fired up, two stand and one hand mixer whirring and both sinks full of dishes, bowls and implements.

All of this however belongs elsewhere - on www.filledwithlovecupcakes.org perhaps. This blog is more reflective, less about food and more about thoughts (tempted to take alliteration a step too far there but foughts really isn't what this is about...)

Last night a group of colleagues from Christian Aid reunited in the pub fondly known as the Old Man's Pub (OMP). On the one hand we did nothing special - the back room of a slightly grotty pub that sells horrid wine. No music, very few seats and nasty toilets.

On the other hand we did something very special indeed. We raised over £400 towards testing of an anti-cancer virus that could save thousands http://icancer.org.uk/

The reasons why we are fundraising for a clinical trial are many and complex. Especially since this drug could be an amazing breakthrough. In a nutshell, pharmaceutical companies are generally interested in research only when it looks likely it will produce a profit and in this case the research is some years away from that stage.

More than that however - the research team placed much of their research in the public domain, so they cannot patent it. Which means pharmaceutical companies cannot guarantee they will own the research and profit from it.

Money - the bible says something about the love of it being the root of evil, and on this occasion it definitely seems as though it is getting in the way of the trials that might see this drug released to help improve the life and life expectancy of many living with NETs (Neo Endocrine Tumours).

Last night however proved that for many people life and love and friendship are more important than money as they dug deep and gave generously. If enough of us do the same we CAN raise the money needed to trial this drug and save lives.

You can read more about it here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9544400/Would-I-takean-untested-cancer-treatment-myself-Hellyes.html

Please do. Dom was a colleague when I worked at Christian Aid. He's a husband, father and all round great guy that I remember as the life and soul of every party. On the decks, playing some great tunes.

If you haven't already heard of NETs they are what ended the life of Steve Jobs. I don't want them to end Dom's life. I want to be at his 50th birthday. And his 60th, 70th and 80th. It cannot be right that this potentially life saving drug is locked away for lack of funding to trial it - let's put that right.


6 comments:

  1. Excellent post! We will be linking to this great article on our website.

    Keep up the great writing.
    Here is my web blog ; weightloss diet

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to

    know your situation; we have created some nice practices and we

    are looking to exchange techniques with others, be
    sure

    to shoot me an e-mail if interested.
    Feel free to visit my web site ... http://www.almoradi.us/index.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think this is one of the most significant info for me.

    And i am glad

    reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site
    style is

    perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
    Look into my weblog endofwesternciv.blogspot.ru

    ReplyDelete
  4. magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of

    this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing.
    I'm sure,

    you've a great readers' base already!
    Also visit my web page ; http://www.thespainforum.Com/f151/

    ReplyDelete
  5. I’ve read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting.
    I

    wonder how much effort you put to make such a fantastic

    informative site.
    my website :: Catral Costa Blanca Spain - property for sale Catral Spain

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can I just say what a aid to seek out someone who

    really knows what theyre speaking about on the internet.
    You positively know easy methods to convey a problem to

    gentle and make it important. More individuals must
    learn this

    and understand this side of the story. I cant imagine youre no more

    fashionable because you undoubtedly have the gift.
    Here is my web site - http://www.elcheproperty.net/weather.html

    ReplyDelete