Press releases

April 27 2006

Cinderella Cancer - A Personal History of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation 

'Cinderella Cancer', a new book detailing a personal history of the UK's only charity wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer, was launched today. Professor Ray Donnelly, Founder and President of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, traces the history of the charity which began life in 1991 as the Lung Cancer Fund.

In the words of its founder, ‘Cinderella Cancer’ tells the story of a phenomenal charity. Mingling science and emotions, it highlights the ordinary people, the media, the celebrities and the scientists who made it happen. In particular, it pays tribute to Roy Castle, whose courage in facing up to a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer helped bring the charity to its present status as the foremost lung cancer organisation in the world.

Commenting on the launch of ‘Cinderella Cancer’, Professor Donnelly said : “We've come a long way since our beginnings as the Lung Cancer Fund and in this book I have tried to describe the events and people, the triumphs and disasters that have made up such a rich and extraordinary history.

"As well as fundraising to support scientific research into early detection of the disease and a 12-year long study into children’s attitudes to smoking, the Foundation provides nationwide smoking cessation services and educational programmes designed to prevent children and young people starting smoking. In addition, we provide patient and family support right across the UK. "

Professor Donnelly continued: “The launch of ‘Cinderella Cancer’ celebrates another landmark for the Foundation – it is fifteen years to the day since the public launch of the charity in 1991 by Ken Dodd.

We're delighted to have Ken back today to celebrate this event and we're looking forward making significant progress over the next fifteen years toward the eventual elimination of lung cancer."

For research alone, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has given more than £12m to fight the disease that affects 38,000 people in the UK every year. The charity also actively campaigns for improvements in patient care for those diagnosed with lung cancer.

Cinderella Cancer is priced £7.99 and available to buy online at www.roycastle.org. A donation from each sale will go to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Published by Bluecoat Press, it is also available from bookshops.

NOTES TO EDITOR

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK 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) and its KATS (Kids Against Tobacco Smoke) educational programme which encourages young people never to start smoking.
• 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.

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