People urged to join first ‘Sunset Run’ to support vital cancer research

People are being encouraged to sign up for a new ‘Sunset Run’ at Nottingham Trent University – in support of its John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.

Participants take part in a previous run in support of the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre

Bookings are now open for the event at the Clifton Campus on Tuesday May 7, which begins at 6.30pm and will feature a 5K run and a 1.5K fun run.

All the money raised will go towards the ground-breaking work at NTU’s cancer research centre – which aims to save lives and speed patient recovery by improving the diagnosis and treatment of a range of cancers.

Established in 2008, the centre has pioneered innovative approaches for improving the diagnosis of cancer, better predicting how the disease will respond to therapy and for boosting the immune system to fight cancer, known as immunotherapy.

Important work has included developing a simple blood test which can confirm the presence of prostate cancer and identifying a breast cancer protein which indicates whether a patient is likely to respond to chemotherapy.

The centre has also just announced that it has found that ‘cancer-killing’ white blood cells from patients with prostate cancer, part of the body’s natural immune system, can be triggered to fight the disease.

The Sunset Run is open to all and will feature entertainment and a barbecue at the finish.

Participants will pay a small entrance fee and are being urged to raise as much as they can, either individually or in groups.

Danielle Russell, Head of Alumni Relations and Regular Giving at Nottingham Trent University, said: “This exciting new event will offer participants the opportunity to make the most of a Spring evening and join people from across Nottingham in a run to raise money for the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.

“Not only will this be an enjoyable evening for all, runners will directly be helping our scientists enable breakthroughs in cancer research.”

Professor Graham Pockley, Director of NTU’s John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, added: “Every penny raised will go towards the research which is making big advances towards the more effective diagnosis, management and treatment of a range of cancers.”

Notes for editors

Press enquiries please contact Dave Rogers, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email.

For further information about the Sunset Run and to sign-up to the event.

For further information about Nottingham Trent University’s John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2017 at the Times Higher Education Awards and Modern University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018. The award recognises NTU for its strong student satisfaction, quality of teaching, overall student experience and engagement with employers.
NTU has been awarded the highest, gold, rating in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework for its outstanding teaching and learning.
The University is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable Nottingham Trent to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is one of the top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the country and 95.6% of its graduates go on to employment or further education within six months of leaving.
NTU is home to world-class research, winning The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 - the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University’s pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage, enable safer production of powdered infant formula and combat food fraud.