The Skin Cancer Research Fund (SCaRF), based at Southmead Hospital, surprised a long-time supporter with an event to thank them for 20 years of support.
Kathy England has raised over £80,000 for SCaRF but is now retiring from fundraising. Kathy and her family were invited to Southmead Hospital to see how her donations have aided research and patient care, as well as a surprise presentation to thank Kathy for her dedication and support.
Kathy began fundraising for SCaRF after her husband, Pete, sadly passed away in 2004 aged 56. Pete initially had a malignant mole removed from his back. Despite initial good progress, he later had a recurrence of this aggressive form of skin cancer, which had spread to other areas of his body. At Pete’s funeral, rather than flowers, the family wanted charitable donations to be made to an organisation that could make a difference to skin cancer. Kathy chanced upon SCaRF and has been a loyal supporter of their work ever since.
Over the last two decades, Kathy has raised money through garden parties, tabletop sales and even selling second-hand items online, with the support of friends, family and her local community. Every penny raised has been donated to SCaRF.
SCaRF was founded in 1979 at Frenchay Hospital by Tony Hancock, who also lost his wife to melanoma, and Denis Bodenham, the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who treated her. Tony remains an active trustee of the charity today at the age of 87. SCaRF aims to raise money for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of skin cancer, especially melanoma, and to raise awareness of the condition.
The charity is helping to find new ways to educate people in our local community about the signs and symptoms of skin cancer. It has run specific sessions for people who treat the skin of their clients, such as barbers, massage therapists and podiatrists, as well as nearby schools and sixth form colleges. They support research all across the UK and current projects include identifying the molecular pathways that go wrong in melanoma and using AI through remote Apps to allow patients to screen their own skin for cancerous change.
SCaRF continues to have close ties to North Bristol NHS Trust and its clinicians. Jon Pleat, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Southmead Hospital, is Chair of the Charity and attended the event to thank Kathy:
“Kathy has been absolutely determined to make a difference in raising awareness of this devastating disease, but the time has come for her to retire from fundraising and to look back with pride on her achievements.
“We are very grateful for her years of support and the extraordinary donations she’s made with support of her family, friends and the local community.”
“Her family are all very proud of her and we all know that Pete would be too.”
Kathy was overwhelmed by her surprise trip to Southmead Hospital for the tour and presentation to see how SCaRF supports skin cancer research.
She said:
“I was so surprised, I will never forget this. It’s been amazing that people have given up their time to give me a tour and presentation.
“I have been fortunate to have a fantastic team behind me. People in my village have really helped me and given such amazing things for me to sell, which has enabled me to do this.”