Press releases

March 14 2007

Monty Joins Forces with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Colin Montgomerie and The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation today announced a joint venture to build a UK centre of excellence dedicated to lung cancer to be named the Elizabeth Montgomerie Centre.

Colin and the Foundation will work together to establish the Centre dedicated to lung cancer patients, carers and health professionals to be based in Glasgow with the ambition to have a profound impact on the future of lung cancer.

The partnership with Colin Montgomerie was announced at a special event held by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation at the House of Lords. It was very fitting that the event was taking place to recognise the progress that the charity's Women Against Lung Cancer campaign held in the week leading up to Mothers' Day.

The campaign aims to mobilise women to press for more resources to be invested in research and patient care. Dame Gill Oliver, the Head of Campaign, said: "Colin's support could not have arrived at a better time and is a wonderful lead for others whether in the statutory or private sector to follow.”

Colin, whose mother Elizabeth died of lung cancer in 1991, said: “The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK wholly dedicated to the defeat of lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer of women as well as men. Our Centre will look to provide the following;

• highest quality information, support and training for lung cancer patients and carers
• first class training for lung cancer multi-disciplinary teams particularly specialist nurses and health and other professionals
• a UK-wide hotline for patients and carers
• research into all aspects of patient care – including the establishment of a Chair in Lung Cancer Studies
• consultancy in all aspects of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation work
• a home for the Foundation’s patient care team.

I am thrilled to be working with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation on this exciting project.”

Professor Ray Donnelly, the Charity’s founder, said: “We are delighted to have Colin’s support – his profile will be a significant contribution in helping lung cancer patients throughout the UK and his energy and passion for the project will be an inspiration to us all. To get the ball rolling he is personally funding our business plan and we are already in contact with the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council.”

Dr David Dunlop, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow, commented: “To have such a facility in Glasgow will be hugely complementary to other developments in cancer services. This Centre will facilitate the concept of improving the experience of individuals with lung cancer which is embedded in Delivering for Health (SEHD 2005).

“Through providing facilities and a venue for information and support, this centre will strongly complement contemporary health policy, and Glasgow is the right place.

“There are so many unique aspects of this proposal; I am not sure why nobody has thought of it before!

I am sure that the support of Colin Montgomerie will generate huge interest. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Foundation to develop a partnership with an inspirational sportsman which will result in a lasting legacy, to improve lung cancer patient care.”

***ends***

Issued by Weber Shandwick on behalf of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation ( Registered Charity 1046854) - for further media information please contact:

Michele Mair on 02082335177 mmair@imgworld.com or Claire Atkinson on 0161 238 9418 email: catkinson@webershandwick.com

NOTES TO EDITOR

 About The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the world wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer in the UK. The charity’s approach benefits current and future lung cancer sufferers alike:

• The foundation funds research programmes to detect lung cancer at a very early stage, which will save lives and is vital to the development of a future therapy.
• The foundation offers patient support, advocacy and an information network providing information, guidance and support relevant to the needs of lung cancer patients and their families.
• The foundation facilitates support groups across the UK that assist sufferers to come to terms with the disease and provide patient advocacy services.
• The foundation operates ‘Quit Smoking’ services for adults (Fag Ends);
• KATS (Kids Against Tobacco Smoke) educational programme for children which encourages young people never to start smoking;
• ATYC (Anti Tobacco Youth Campaign) which gives young people a voice, knowledge and skills to campaign about smoking and other tobacco issues;
• The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation runs fundraising events and charity shops, both of which help to generate much needed voluntary donations (public and corporate), on which it relies to continue its fight to defeat lung cancer.