Distance-running Vale MP Alun Cairns handed over the money he raised through sponsorship of his London Marathon run at a presentation event on Barry Island last Friday. Mr Cairns raised £7,586 for Breast Cancer Now and the Brain Tumour Charity, completing the race as the fastest Member of Parliament.
Alun Cairns MP said:
“I chose to run this year’s London Marathon for the Brain Tumour Charity and Breast Cancer Now because I know what great work they do through people affected by both illnesses. Here in Barry there are many who volunteer for both and do the vital week-in week-out fundraising that makes a difference to so many lives.
“I am hugely grateful to everyone who sponsored me to run the marathon in aid of these great causes. I am also grateful to Breast Cancer Now and the Brain Tumour Charity who put the public’s generously given money to such good use.”
Geraldine Pipping, The Brain Tumour Charity’s Director of Fundraising said:
“We were delighted and honoured to be one of Alun’s chosen charities for his run in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon.
“We rely 100% on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of Alun and others like him that we can work towards our twin goals of doubling survival and halving the harm caused by brain tumours.
“Alun’s support has also helped enormously in raising awareness of brain tumours, which are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40 in the UK. Survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years. The money Alun has raised will go towards changing these shocking statistics.”
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“We’re so grateful to Alun for running the London Marathon to help us fund innovative breast cancer research and our congratulations go to him for his incredibly impressive personal-best time.
“Breast cancer is a heart-breaking disease that still takes the lives of around 11,500 women each year. With every marathon run, we’re powering research that’s finding new ways to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer until the day when we finally stop it taking the lives of those we love.
“We’re very proud to have the fastest MP in the UK running in a Breast Cancer Now vest and we’re really thankful to Alun for his continued support.”