A REDDITCH woman is urging people to support a clinical trial which may have the answers to curing cancer.
87-year-old Helen Barker wants to raise £1,000 for charity ‘The Cancer Vaccines Charitable Trust’ (CVCT), which is supporting a trial in Liverpool.
It was established two years ago using the research of Helen’s nephew, Dr John Maudsley.
Beoley resident, Helen, said: “John and his wife Sarah have spent 20 years developing a vaccine which aims to cure cancer without the unpleasant side-effects which chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery bring.
“The vaccine is being trialled here in the UK, and we want to make sure that continues with CVCT’s support.”
CVCT, based in Warwickshire, seeks to promote and support the use of vaccines in the treatment and cure of cancer.
Helen has spent months talking to people in Redditch, handing out leaflets and explaining how they can donate.
She has set up a ‘fun challenge’, which is for each person to tell their friends, family and colleagues to donate £1 to CVCT to increase the scope of its work.
Known as ‘ACIT-1’, the trial currently addresses pancreatic and a few other cancers.
Dr Maudsley said: “We need to make the treatment available for more cancer sufferers and across more cancer types.”
Cancer Research UK, Liverpool University and the National Institute for Health Research are all supporting the trial.
Dr Maudsley added: “It’s been a stressful journey to get mine and Sarah’s vaccine to where it is at the moment.
“We need to trial more patients so that we can work out the best dosage for the vaccine.”
“I feel we are making significant strides and that’s so important.
“I can’t thank people enough for supporting CVCT.”
All money raised from Helen’s fundraising challenge will go directly to supporting the charity’s work.
To donate visit wonderful.org/charity/cancervaccinescharitabletrustcvct .
