Business Beats Cancer Cymru launches inaugural gala dinner to fund life-saving research here in Wales

Every year around 19,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales and a team of business leaders have come together to put on Business Beats Cancer Cymru’s first gala dinner fundraising event, with the aim of raising tens of thousands of pounds to fund pioneering research at Cardiff University.

Thanks to research, the UK’s cancer survival has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the disease for more than 10 years. Under the watchful eye of Professor Alan Parker, his team at Cardiff University are researching the effectiveness of special viruses that have been engineered to infect and kill ovarian cancer cells, and money raised from Business Beats Cancer Cymru events will go towards funding this specific fight against the cruel disease.

Tickets are on sale now for the fabulous gala dinner event which will be held on Thursday November 9, 2023, in the Principality Stadium’s Presidents Lounge. Join the team for a fabulous line-up of entertainment, pitch side drinks reception, fantastic auction experiences, a two-course dinner, as well as a few additional surprises on the night!

The Welsh business leaders who have teamed up to launch this new fundraising board dedicated to saving lives are: Richard Selby (Pro Steel Engineering), Matthew Phillips (Focus MEP), Angharad Collins (Welsh Rugby Union), Sarah Williams-Gardener (Fintech Wales), Alan Jones (AGJ Accountants), Bethan Lewis (Brandrocker), Siwan Rees (Impact Innovation), Sadique Maskeen (Umbrella Funding) and Simon Clarke (Speakeasy Club).

Business Beats Cancer Cymru chairman, Richard Selby said: “Until all cancers are treatable and survivable, there will be a fight against the disease. Our ambition is to help Cancer Research UK accelerate progress and see three-quarters of people surviving the disease within the next 20 years.

“Many of our board members recently shared their own experiences of cancer with each other, with family and friends sadly losing lives, and so the combined passion to raise as much money as we can is only strengthened. We have a really exciting gala dinner planned, and with your help we can raise the ambitious fundraising target we have so that we can support all of the fantastic research happening in Wales and achieve the cures we all pray to see very soon.” 

Sophie Busson, Relationship Manager for Cancer Research UK in Wales who will be sharing her own story during the gala dinner, said: “One in two people now survive their cancer for 10 years or more in the UK, but there is still so much more work to be done. The support we receive from our business community is hugely important to us and the commitment that the Business Beats Cancer Cymru Board are making to raise money for life-saving research is fantastic.  The funds will go towards Cancer Research UK’s work here in Wales which shows the impact of a national charity on local communities.”

Tickets cost £125 per person, £1,000 per table of eight. Tables and tickets can be booked and paid for by emailing board member Alan Jones on alan@agjaccountants.co.uk who will be able to sort out an invoice for you. If you can’t make the event, but you’d like to support the team’s fundraising efforts, you can donate via the Business Beats Cancer Cymru page here

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/business-beats-cancer-cymru

For more information about Business Beats Cancer Cymru please visit

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer/help-us-raise-money/business-beats-cancer/business-beats-cancer-cymru or follow on Twitter (@BizCancerCymru) and LinkedIn.