Newcastle fundraiser wins charity’s ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award

5/23/2011 12:13 PM EST

Press release

For immediate release: Monday 23 May 2011
Press contact: Marilena Patuto, 020 7749 3720  

A fundraiser from Newcastle-upon-Tyne has been awarded an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Breast Cancer Campaign’ award after raising an incredible £50,000 to help the charity continue funding vital breast cancer research.

Dave Wiggett, who has been fundraising for the charity for five years, impressed judges after dedicating his time to raise money in memory of his wife Dianne, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2006.

Dave set up a Pink Ribbon Tribute Fund and asked friends and colleagues to make donations. He has taken part in many challenges and held events to help raise money for the charity. He has trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and along the Great Wall of China, completed fun runs and organised charity dinners in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. He has involved the entire community in his fundraising efforts and has helped raise awareness of breast cancer research.

Dave said: “I’m really proud to have won this prestigious award and it’s a real honour to have my fundraising achievements recognised in this way. I have had incredible support over the past five years and want to thank all those who helped me reach this milestone. It is great to raise awareness about breast cancer and help to fund the life-changing research aimed at beating the disease.”

Pamela Goldberg, Breast Cancer Campaign’s Chief Executive said: “Congratulations to Dave for winning this prestigious award for his outstanding fundraising. It is thanks to the continued support and commitment from people like Dave that we are able to fund innovative world-class research to help us improve the lives of breast cancer patients and beat the disease.”

Dave was presented with the award at Breast Cancer Campaign’s awards ceremony held on Thursday 19 May 2011 at the House of Lords.

If you want to be in the running for next year’s award, then contact the charity to find out how you can help beat breast cancer. Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, call 020 7749 4114 or email  

ENDS

Photo: Dave Wiggett accepting his award from the Baroness Fookes of Plymouth, DBE DL, Patron of Breast Cancer Campaign and sponsoring peer.

Notes to editors
• Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.
• Currently it supports 97 research projects, worth over £16.7 million, in 31 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
• In the UK, nearly 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year – that’s 125 a day
• Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org
• Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/
• The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank, the UK’s first ever national breast cancer tissue bank, is a unique collaboration with four leading research institutions to create a vital resource of breast cancer tissue for researchers across the UK and Ireland. Visit www.breastcancertissuebank.org