The British and Irish Lions are the latest starts to show their support for Velindre cancer centre’s Victory over Cancer campaign. The players led by Lions captain and Velindre Patron Sam Warburton formed a V shape and gave the Velindre Victory V sign. The campaign which was launched earlier this month has already attracted the support of Ioan Gruffydd, Sian Lloyd, Alex Jones and may sports starts including the Welsh Rugby Team, Cardiff Blues, The Ospreys and Cardiff City.

Head of Fundraising at Velindre Andrew Morris said “We are absolutely delighted that the Lions have shown their support for our Victory over Cancer campaign, and really grateful to Lions coaches Warren Gatland and Rob Howley for arranged the photo; Rob and Warren climbed Kilimanjaro for us 3 years ago, so they have a great understanding of Velindre and the work carried out here”.

People can show their support for the campaign by visiting: www.velindrefundraising.com/victoryovercancer

 MALKY MACKAY ANNOUNCED AS NEW VELINDRE PATRON AT STAR STUDDED GALA DINNER TO LAUNCH NEW VELINDRE VICTORY OVER CANCER CAMPAIGN

VELINDRE Cancer Centre launched a brand new campaign with a special star studded Gala Dinner at Cardiff City Stadium last night. The guests of honour were British and Irish Lions Captain Sam Warburton and Malky Mackay. It was announced at the event that the Manager of Champions Cardiff City has accepted an invitation to become a Patron of Velindre.

This follows a recent visit to the cancer centre, where Malky met patients and staff. In a special Q and A last night Malky spoke of his visit: “It was a humbling experience, I have been surrounded by happy, smiling people for a few days and we’ve all been patting each other on the back. I met a man at Velindre sitting in a big chair who was having his chemotherapy, having the bag put into him.  He desperately waved me over with a big smile on his face to shake my hand and talk to me about what Cardiff City had achieved.

I walked away after our chat thinking ‘My God. He wanted to talk about Cardiff’s football team in the middle of something that is life and death.’

So I was delighted to accept Velindre’s offer to be a Patron, and joining the likes of Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams and James Dean Bradfield; the Victory over cancer gala Dinner was a great event and I was really pleased that so many of our players, including Craig Bellamy and Mark Hudson were able to attend”.

The Victory over Cancer Gala Dinner launch was a huge success, designed to celebrate famous Welsh victories, and nearly 300 guests enjoyed rubbing shoulders with Velindre Patrons Martyn Williams and Sam Warburton and new Patron Malky, as well as Rugby greats Tom Shanklin and Rhys Williams, and newly promoted Cardiff City players, Jamie Baulch and British Masters Champion Lydia Hall. The evening was superbly compeered by Caroline Hitt, who spoke movingly of her experiences of Velindre.

Cardiff City Manager Malky Mackay said: “Velindre Victory over Cancer is a campaign that we are really pleased to support; everyone knows someone affected by cancer and the terrific work carried out by the staff at Velindre. The Cardiff City management, players and hopefully all our fans will get behind this appeal, and fully support anything that will help achieve Victory over Cancer.”

Head of Fundraising at Velindre Andrew Morris said “We had been waiting to launch this appeal and following Cardiff City’s and Sam’s superb achievements, this was the ideal time to launch our Victory over Cancer Campaign; the Gala Dinner gave us the opportunity to celebrate some famous victory’s in an incredible sporting year in Wales. At Velindre we believe that every hour, every day, every month that someone survives cancer is a victory. 

We are proud to be launching this new campaign to highlight this positive message - Velindre Victory over Cancer.

Every pound that is raised will be used to help in our battle to achieve the ultimate goal. Every event, every function no matter how big or small, will be a celebration as anything that helps defy cancer will contribute towards our aim of Victory over Cancer.

We know that facing up to, and dealing with cancer is one of the biggest challenges that anyone can face; it affects everyone – family, friends, work colleagues and ultimately how you live your life, we know it can be a very frightening time. At Velindre we strive to provide support to cancer patients and their families through this difficult period, and our specially trained and highly committed staff strive every day to make this time as comfortable as possible.”

Andrea Hague, Director of Velindre Cancer Centre said “Patient Centred care is at the heart of everything we do and believe in here at Velindre Cancer Centre; all money raised from our Victory over Cancer campaign will be used to ensure the best possible support is offered to every patient, their families and carers dealing with cancer. It will allow us to fund ground breaking research, specialist equipment, and new developments so our staff have access to the most up to date training and techniques available.”

For further information on the Velindre Victory over Cancer campaign please visit: www.velindrefundraising.com/victoryovercancer

MORGAN COLE DIG FOR VICTORY IN AID OF VELINDRE

Local law firm Morgan Cole is digging deep for Velindre Cancer Centre having nominated the Cardiff cancer hospital as their charity of the year.

Morgan Cole will support the Velindre Victory over Cancer appeal as part of their Community Investment Programme, which includes fundraising, volunteering and sponsorship. Staff will also be encouraged to donate their time to help the charity with work having already begun on the Princess Margaret Ward gardens.

Philip Jardine, a Partner with Morgan Cole explains: “We take our responsibilities to the communities in which we operate seriously and work hard to manage our business responsibly for long term success. Involving our employees in the community brings benefits and we actively encourage everybody in Morgan Cole to take part by allowing staff to take a day off each year to undertake voluntary work.”

“The vital work that Velindre Cancer Centre undertakes touches the lives of so many people so we are delighted to adopt the centre as our charity of the year.”

Andrew Morris Head of Fundraising at Velindre said:  “Patient centred care is at the heart of everything we do and believe in here at Velindre; all money raised from our Victory over Cancer campaign will be used to ensure the best possible support is offered to every patient, their families and carers dealing with cancer. It will allow us to fund ground breaking research, specialist equipment, and new developments so our staff have access to the most up to date training and techniques available. We are therefore very grateful to Morgan Cole for their support”

BLUEBIRDS manager Malky Mackay has opened  up on a poignant visit to  patients at Velindre Cancer  Centre in the wake of  Cardiff’s  promotion-clinching win.

Mackay went to the city  medical facility to pledge  his support to the centre’s latest campaign, Velindre Victory over Cancer.

“It was a humbling  experience,” he said.

“I have been surrounded  by happy, smiling people for  a few days and we’ve all  been patting each other on  the back. I met a man at  Velindre sitting in a big  chair who was having his  chemotherapy, having the  bag put into him.

“He desperately waved  me over with a big smile on  his face to shake my hand  and talk to me about what Cardiff City had achieved.

“I walked away after our chat thinking ‘My God. He wanted to talk about  Cardiff’s football team in  the middle of something that is life and death.”

Bluebirds manager  Mackay has pledged full  support for Velindre’s “Victory Over Cancer” campaign and the Launch Gala Dinner being held at  Cardiff City stadium on May 1.

Guest of honour Mackay  and his coaching staff plus captain Craig Bellamy and other players will attend  the dinner and he says: “I  was invited to the hospital and went up with their President, Jonathan Davies.

“The Velindre Centre  helps people throughout  Wales. Cancer touches  everybody in this country  somewhere along the line.  The people there are doing  incredible work to try and  eradicate cancer and find  new techniques to help  people.

“They are doing great  work for Wales. This is a  charity trying to push for  the Premier League as well.

“They are a  Championship charity working to push on – and  the event on May 1 will be a double Victory dinner to  mark Cardiff’s promotion and their work against  cancer.

“The dinner on Wednesday week will be a  lovely night in our stadium coming off the back of our promotion.  I am looking forward to a special night.”

Wales Grand Slam hero Sam Warburton, a Velindre patron, will also attend the dinner.

Andrea Hague, director of  Velindre Cancer Centre, said: “All money raised from our Victory over Cancer campaign will be used to ensure the best possible support is offered to every  patient, their families and carers.

“It will allow us to fund groundbreaking research, specialist equipment, and new developments so our staff  have access to the  most up to date training and techniques available.”

Further information on  the Velindre Victory over Cancer campaign please visit: www.velindrefundraising.com/victoryovercancer

CARDIFF City Football Club Manager Malky Mackay is well used to famous victories, and today he took time out of his busy schedule to visit Velindre Cancer Centre to help promote a new campaign called Victory over Cancer.

Malky was met by Velindre President Jonathan Davies, who took him on a tour of the hospital, much to the delight of both patients and staff.

Jonathan said: ”I know what a special place Velindre is, so it was great to be able to show Malky around, and for him to be able to see firsthand what great work is carried out here. The Victory over Cancer campaign will help raise the profile and ultimately even more money for Velindre, so we were really pleased to have Malky’s support”.

The campaign will be launched with a special Gala Dinner at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday 1 May, and will celebrate famous victories. Manager Malky Mackay will be the guest of honour after leading Cardiff to the top flight for the first time in over 50 years, along with Craig Bellamy and Velindre Patron Sam Warburton will also be attending in recognition of Wales’s record victory over England on route to the 6 Nations Championship.

Cardiff City Manager Malky Mackay said: “The Velindre Victory over Cancer is a campaign that we are really pleased to support; everyone knows someone affected by cancer and the terrific work carried out by the staff at Velindre. The Cardiff City management, players and hopefully all our fans will get behind this appeal, and fully support anything that will help achieve Victory over Cancer.”

If you would like to be part of the celebrations, tickets are available for the Victory over Cancer Launch Gala Dinner at www.velindrefundraising.com/bookonline, or by calling Velindre Fundraising on 029 2031 6211.

Head of Fundraising at Velindre Andrew Morris said: “We have been waiting to launch this appeal, and following Cardiff City’s superb achievements, this is the ideal time to launch our Victory over Cancer Campaign; the Gala Dinner gives the opportunity to celebrate some famous victories in an incredible sporting year in Wales. At Velindre we believe that every hour, every day, every month that someone survives cancer is a victory.  We are proud to be launching this new campaign to highlight this positive message - Velindre Victory over Cancer.”

“Every pound that is raised will be used to help in our battle to achieve the ultimate goal. Every event, every function no matter how big or small, will be a celebration as anything that helps defy cancer will contribute towards our aim of Victory over Cancer.

We know that facing up to, and dealing with cancer is one of the biggest challenges that anyone can face; it affects everyone – family, friends, work colleagues and ultimately how you live your life, we know it can be a very frightening time.

At Velindre we strive to provide support to cancer patients and their families through this difficult period, and our specially trained and highly committed staff strive every day to make this time as comfortable as possible.”

Andrea Hague, Director of Velindre Cancer Centre, pictured below with Malky, said “Patient centred care is at the heart of everything we do and believe in here at Velindre Cancer Centre; all money raised from our Victory over Cancer campaign will be used to ensure the best possible support is offered to every patient, their families and carers dealing with cancer. It will allow us to fund ground breaking research, specialist equipment, and new developments so our staff have access to the most up to date training and techniques available.”

For further information on the Velindre Victory over Cancer campaign please visit: www.velindrefundraising.com/victoryovercancer