HELEN’S BAY LADIES SUPPORT OVARIAN CANCER 
02 May 2019
The Immediate Past Lady Captain of Helen’s Bay Golf Club – Linda Wilson – accompanied by current Lady Captain, Barbara Edwards and Lady Vice-Captain, Helen Baird – were at Queen’s recently to present a cheque to CCRCB to fund ovarian cancer research.
The County Down seaside club handed over £6,076 to Dr Nuala McCabe, a researcher in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) and the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biological Sciences at Queen’s, the proceeds of Linda’s year as Lady Captain.
Dr McCabe is responsible for the discovery and development of biomarkers for clinical trials in the area of breast and ovarian cancers. She runs a joint research programme between Queen’s and Almac Diagnostic Services where she is a Team Leader of Internal Research and is Biomarker Research Manager. Her work has already led to a number of significant invited talks, patents and publications including Nature, Cancer Research, Cancer Cell and Oncogene.
During her year as Lady Captain Linda staged a Bridge Drive, a Charity Luncheon and an Afternoon Tea with fashions – all in aid of her chosen charity – which were supported by hundreds of lady members and their guests.
Dr McCabe – along with Dr Eileen Parkes, Academic Clinical Lecturer from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences whose work will also be supported by the funding – attended and spoke at the lunch in Helen’s Bay. She thanked all those involved in raising the £6,000 and explained where the funds would be used: “I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who supported Past Lady Captain Linda with her various fundraising events or who contributed in any way.
Speaking on behalf of Dr Parkes, she added: “Our research aims to harness an individual patient’s immune system to fight their own cancer through the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. While this approach has been successful in other cancers it is a relatively new concept in ovarian cancer. It is our hope that, following the publication and peer review of the research findings, this will lead to early phase clinical trials.”
Commenting on the gift to CCRCB Rachel Ketola, Development Manager, Health in the Development and Alumni Relations Office at Queen’s, said: “I am delighted that the ladies of Helen’s Bay Golf Club, led by Immediate Past Lady Captain Linda Wilson, have so generously supported the work of CCRCB.
“The money raised will make a major contribution to funding ovarian cancer research at Queen’s and, ultimately, will help to improve the outcomes and quality of life of patients in the Northern Ireland.”
Each year, over 9,000 people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer and this number is growing as our population ages.
Established in 2007, CCRCB is a 5,000m² purpose-built, state-of-the-art interdisciplinary centre, comprised of scientific teams from Biomedical Science, Clinical Medicine, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering and Radiobiology.
CCRCB works collaboratively with partners around the world to find new ways to advance and tackle cancer care and to translate research into innovative cancer treatments that enhance and extend life. It also seeks to train the next generation of scientists and clinicians and to enhance the competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector.
To find out more about supporting important medical research at Queen’s visit the Development and Alumni Relations Office website or contact Teresa Sloan, Head of Health Fundraising, telephone +44 (0)28 9097 5394.
General enquiries about this news story can be directed to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office at Queen’s, tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
Pictured above are (L-R): Barbara Edwards (current Lady Captain, Helen’s Bay GC), Rachel Ketola (Queen’s Development and Alumni Relations Office), Dr Nuala McCabe (CCRCB and School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s), Linda Wilson (Helen’s Bay Captain 2018), Niamh McGivern (researcher, CCRCB) and Helen Baird (current Lady Vice-Captain, Helen’s Bay GC).
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