A legendary gift to Alzheimer’s Research UK One in two of us know someone affected by dementia, with numbers set to continue rising in the coming years. But through research, we can change this. Dementia research is making progress and with more support we can make life-changing breakthroughs possible. Alzheimer’s Research UK is the only national charity with a sole focus on raising funds to power cutting-edge dementia research. With the backing of their passionate scientists and supporters, they believe medical research can and will make breakthroughs possible. Research has meant incredible discoveries have already been made, and with your support Alzheimer’s Research UK can turn those discoveries into life-changing preventions, treatments and one day, a cure. One legendary way you can support dementia research is with a gift in your Will. One in three of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s research projects are only made possible thanks to these gifts. Costing you nothing during your lifetime, they are the ultimate gift to the future. These gifts, whatever the size, have allowed Alzheimer’s Research UK to keep on powering groundbreaking research during the most challenging of times. In the past year and a half, so many ways of fundraising have been prevented, from the London Marathon to local coffee mornings. But gifts in Wills have enabled dementia research to continue. These gifts are truly vital, and will help keep people connected to their families, their worlds and themselves for longer. To order your free guide on how your gift will help future protect generations from the heartbreak of dementia please visit, www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/include-aruk-will/
Catastrophes Cat Rescue Raising funds for a new Treatment, Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre. For cats with no or little hope Catastrophes Cat Rescue provides a lifeline that they so desperately need. Many of the cats in their care have been abandoned, ill treated and many are simply feral and too difficult for other sanctuaries to take on board. Whatever their special needs, Liz Varney and the team at Catastrophes never turn a cat away whatever their circumstances or how difficult they appear. The charity’s mantra is that every cat deserves a chance. Cats are given the opportunity to live out their lives in a peaceful country cottage environment or rehomed if possible. For cats who have no one the charity is in Liz’s words ‘their someone’ working to meet the needs of all cats in the charities care. Of course many of the cats come with enormous health problems and making sure that they receive proper vet care is at the very top of the charity’s aims. They are currently in the process of a campaign to raise £80,000 to build a Rehabilitation Centre. This facility is vital. This centre is vital to meet the needs of cats in care. Many come in with health problems, dental issues are often diagnosed and in particular the feral cats who have had no level of care in their lifetime. Liz believes that neutering is only the first step and wants to make sure that every cat has a clean bill of health. Liz believes that the Recovery & Rehabilitation centre offers an opportunity to facilitate Veterinary professionals to be proactive with the work of the charity and make a huge difference to the welfare of the cats in her care. For further details of how you can help the charity Contact Liz Varney 01435 83021 mobile 07912 113392 Email lizzie@catastrophescats.org website www.catastrophescats.org
Tim Mitchell & Susan Hill Cycling for Surgical Research Written by Mr Tim Mitchell FRCS
Our COVID-19 delayed cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, completed in July 2021 by two ageing amateur cyclists. Why such madness? To raise funds – £21k to date – to be split between RCS England’s Surgical Research Fund and Myeloma UK, in support of a colleague who has received treatment for multiple myeloma. However, the real story is the human interaction and community spirit so cruelly denied during this pandemic. On our journey we made many new friends, including the ‘Cycling Vicars’ from Hampshire on their tandem and unprompted donations from strangers in a pub in St Austell and a field in the Forest of Bowland, as we carried our bikes over a fence and a gate to bypass a road closure.
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We received fantastic support from friends and colleagues, with our journey allowing us to meet with them in person – in many cases for the first time since the pandemic. Mallory famously climbed Everest ‘because it’s there’ and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats was our horizontal Everest. As experienced and dedicated surgeons, we have first-hand experience of the impact that surgical research can have upon people’s lives. Most of us know a family member or friend whose life has been saved or dramatically improved due to modern surgery and this is the cause we dedicate our lives to, every day when we go to work. We would encourage everyone to take part in fundraising for the Surgical Research Fund www.rcseng. ac.uk/supportourwork RETIREMENT
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