News releases
YOUNG MAN INSPIRED BY CANCER TRAGEDY
03 July 2006
A young man has vowed to help raise money to find the causes of cancer since the recent tragic death of his father from the disease.�
Roger Tretton, of Babacombe Avenue, South Shore has set up a magazine and fundraising committee in aid of local charity North West Cancer Research Fund after his father passed away from cancer just six weeks ago.
Roger�s father, Mr Tretton Senior, 68, who lived in Blackpool for over 30 years had battled with cancer for the last four years of his life.� The disease began in his colon but later spread to this throat.� Mr Tretton Senior returned to his native Keighley in West Yorkshire where he spent his final years.�
Roger chose North West Cancer Research Fund as his designated charity because of their dedication to research.� He says: �Having seen first hand what cancer sufferers go through, it is hard to put a price on scientific research.� North West Cancer Research Fund consistently spends over 90p in every pound directly on research so I know that by helping them, any money raised will be spent with the patient in mind.
North West Cancer Research Fund does some great work but because it is so local, it doesn�t get the recognition that it should.� Hopefully the magazine and committee will change that.
I lost my dad when I was 26 and he lost his father to lung cancer when he was just 21.� This terrible cycle has to be broken which is what prompted me to set up Blackpool Spotlight, helping the charity but also providing a useful guide for the people of Blackpool.�
The magazine, Blackpool Spotlight was set up in March 2006 as a quarterly magazine covering what�s on and what�s new in Blackpool.� The glossy magazine is intended to be a �local magazine for locals� with a percentage of the proceedings going to North West Cancer Research Fund.
Roger�s assistant Kat Cottam has helped Roger to set up the local committee forming the Blackpool part of the charity.� Aware that there wasn�t a branch of the charity in the area, the pair have set about creating a branch and have already got some fundraising underway.�
Kat, 31, was diagnosed with cervical cancer some years ago and her fight with the disease has prompted her to be secretary.�
She said: �For me, the fight could not be more personal.� I have fought this disease head on and I know how frightening it can be.� Volunteering is so rewarding and very sociable; anyone who wants to join is more than welcome.�
If you have helped to collect money for The North West Cancer Research Fund, don't forget to tell us all about how you raised the money so we can publicise your efforts.