Devoted cancer research fundraiser, Olive Cutts has been honoured for her dedication and four decades of support at North West Cancer Research’s 70th anniversary awards ceremony.
The 78-year-old from Southport was handed the Chairman’s Special Award at the gala dinner evening last weekend, acknowledging her efforts in raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity.
Olive started fundraising for the North West Cancer Research more than 30-years ago when her son, then 11-years-old, was diagnosed and treated for blastoma cancer.
Over the years, as chair of the Southport fundraising committee, Olive has organised hundreds of events to raise money for North West Cancer Research, the same charity that funded the researchers who helped her son make a full recovery all those years ago.
In the last 12 months, the committee of 14 volunteers have raised £35,000 thanks to events such as an annual afternoon tea and ‘Call My Bluff’ cheese and wine evening.
Olive said: “It is an honour to have been selected for the Chairman’s Special Award. Thirty years ago, I started helping out at a few small events organised by the Southport committee. After learning more about the wonderful work North West Cancer Research does to support the fight against cancer, I knew it was something I had to continue doing.
“I’m so proud of everything the Southport group have achieved over the years, and this award is as much theirs as it is mine.
“It was a very terrifying encounter that put me in contact with the charity, when my son George was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, he went on to make a full recovery, but I always think of what might have happened had it not been for the North West Cancer Research funded surgeon who operated on him, and ultimately saved his life.
“I hope to continue fundraising for the charity for many years to come.”
The Chairman’s Special was awarded to Olive at the Gala dinner on Saturday 29th September at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory, Stanley Park by North West Cancer Research chair, Nigel Lanceley.
Nigel said: “Olive is one of North West Cancer Research’s fundraising heroes. After joining the Southport Committee more than 30-years ago, she has risen through the ranks becoming secretary and then chair.
“Olive has raised a staggering amount for us over the years and in the past has acted as a valued Trustee of the charity. It was with pleasure that we awarded Olive the Chairman’s Special award, I can’t think of a person better suited for it.”
The North West Cancer Research 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner honoured the efforts of the charity’s life-long fundraisers and researchers, who together have helped the organisation become one of the leading independent cancer research charities in the region.
In the last 18 years the charity has supported £39 million worth of research across the North West, supporting ground-breaking projects at University of Liverpool, Lancaster University and Bangor University.
Special guests included Lord Mostyn, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, as well as Roger Phillips who hosted the evening’s awards.
Alastair Richards, CEO of North West Cancer Research, said: “On behalf of everyone at North West Cancer Research, I would like thank all of our fundraisers, researchers, corporate supporters and donors, whose continued efforts have guided us over the last 70 years.
“The awards allowed us to reflect on their collective achievements so far. As well as looking back, it also gives us a chance to look forward to the future. We are currently funding 50 research projects and our network of fundraisers is growing every day, helping us continue to fund innovative life-saving research here in the North West.”
