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Corporate news

BBC star supporting cancer research

Legendary BBC broadcaster Mark Radcliffe has given his support to the fundraising campaign to build a new world class transformational research facility to replace the Paterson building.

Mark’s message: Mark is pictured with his bench at The University of Manchester

The BBC star, who has recently been a patient at The Christie, unveiled an engraved park bench dedicated to cancer research. In a twist to ‘in memoriam’ benches, Mark’s bench highlights his recovery from cancer and salutes the scientists, doctors and nurses who are making game-changing progress in tackling the disease. The inscription reads: “Mark Radcliffe loved sitting here… and still does thanks to advances in cancer research.” The new £150m flagship building will be a purpose-built biomedical cancer research facility, bringing together three powerhouses of innovation – The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK. These three partners are currently working towards reaching that target. Mark was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 with a cancerous tumour on his tongue which had also spread to lymph nodes in his neck. Yet following successful treatment, he returned to the airwaves in February last year. He said:

“ Plans for the new research building sound exciting and it’s amazing that such a world-leading facility will be built on my doorstep in the North West. Research into cancer is the key to changing lives now and in the future. Without it I simply wouldn’t be standing – or sitting – here today. ” Mark Radcliffe The new facility – twice the size of the Paterson building which was extensively damaged by fire in 2017 – will bring together several hundred scientists, doctors, nurses and support staff. By 2030, the building will be at the heart of our ambition to lead the world in clinical trial recruitment – supporting the development of new and kinder cancer therapies.

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