A TEAM of fundraisers have set up a new committee in Soham dedicated to raising money for research into cancer.
The East Cambridgeshire Local Committee for Cancer Research UK is now officially off the ground after forming just before Christmas.
Its 10 voluntary members, with two living around Cambridge and the rest in Soham, are aiming to raise the profile
of research into the disease by holding numerous fundraising initiatives throughout the year.
"It was formed to give something back and do something useful and there was nothing already here like it," said member Jean Cole, of Julius Martin Lane.
"I think maybe we saw an opening where we could do something a little bit different.
"Lots of people know about breast cancer and all about the local walks and runs but they do not know about the research side of it."
The members met after becoming involved in Relay for Life, an event held by Cancer Research, and eventually decided to branch off and set up their own fundraising group.
Mrs Cole said committee members had been affected by the disease in various ways, which was one of the inspirations behind forming the group.
"Most people know someone, either a friend or relative, who has been affected by cancer," she said.
"It is sad. I lost my mum to cancer and another member of the family has it as has my daughter's friend. One of our committee members is a survivor."
Although details of events have yet to be finalised, the committee is planning to hold a cream tea in Soham in July, a big duck race during the summer and a Christmas carol concert in the town. Other events are also in the pipeline.
Although they have just started fundraising, they so far have helped the local community raise around £3,000 for the charity.
"We are chuffed to bits with what we have done already and our aims are to raise as much as we can and to raise as much awareness as we can," said Mrs Cole. "We think it is important."
Laura Holland, area volunteer manager at Cancer Research UK, said the money raised by the committee would be used for research in the area at Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Cambridge Research Institute.
"It is a great thing they are doing and they are so enthusiastic," she said.
"It is something new for the area and we are hoping it will help people."
Anyone with fundraising ideas or interested in joining the committee can contact the group on 01353 720601.
