Headline act by Lisa to aid cancer work
Mar 15 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal
A NEWCASTLE University scientist whose family has been touched by cancer held a hair-raising stunt to raise money for charity.
Lisa Mack, 25, from Brownlow Road, West Harton, South Shields, has had her shoulder-length dark brown hair bleached and then dyed bright red to help raise funds for research.
She urged other fellow scientists at the Northern Institute to join her by paying to wear wigs to work yesterday.
Lisa, whose research into treatment for Wilms’ tumours in children is funded by Cancer Research UK, is a dedicated supporter of the charity.
She was just 14 years old when she lost her father, Sydney Mack, to lung cancer. Four years ago she watched her mother June go through treatment for breast cancer.
Lisa said: “I lost my father to cancer when I was a teenager so I know what a devastating impact the disease can have on families. I grew up wanting to work in cancer research.
“About four years ago my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been treated successfully and I’m so proud of her.”
Lisa’s ‘headline’ act is designed to help her colleague Nicola Harris raise more than £2,000 for Cancer Research UK as part of her fundraising efforts for the Flora London Marathon.
Nicola, aged 26, from Newcastle, is also carrying out research into treatment for children’s cancers at the institute.
Nicola, of Nafferton Place, Fenham, will be taking part in the 26.2 mile run for the first time on Sunday, April 13. Cancer Research UK is the UK’s largest single supporter of children’s cancer research. The charity helps fund the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) which organises and manages the treatment of virtually all children with cancer via a network of 21 paediatric centres throughout the UK, including the Children and Adolescent Cancer Unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. Cancer Research UK funds research at Newcastle University to improve existing treatments for children and find new ones for the future.
