Royal Arch Freemasons in Hampshire & Isle of Wight have raised £42,000 for the University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology. The fundraising was in aid of their Annual Charity Appeal.
Receiving the donation on behalf of Southampton University’s Centre for Cancer Immunology and addressing the 300-plus Royal Arch members attending their Province’s Annual Meeting, Katherine de Retuerto explained the importance of the work carried out at the Centre.
‘We have a thriving cohort of PhD students training the next generation of academics and clinicians to drive immunotherapies forward, The Centre is attracting global experts in this field to come and work in Southampton. We are securing competitive research grants across a range of cancer types. And we are dramatically reducing the time it takes to get a basic discovery in the laboratory available to patients.
The University of Southampton has been the grateful recipient of immense generosity from the Freemasons over the years, and we really do appreciate their wonderful support. We will use 100 per cent of the donations directly to develop better, kinder, more effective cancer treatments to enable people to live longer and live better.’
Commenting on the funds raised, Provincial Grand Superintendent Steve Allum said,
‘Our members’ support towards this work will have a significant impact,’ adding that one member, Gerry Underwood, had given a magnificent sum which helped the Province’s fundraising efforts for the Centre to get underway.
