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Celebrities supporting Cancer Research UK

Celebrity support is an important element in helping Cancer Research UK to raise vital funds and awareness for our world-class research work towards beating cancer. Here are some recent highlights from the Celebrity Team:

Run 10K at Hampton Court and Finsbury Park

This Autumn Cancer Research UK has over 40 Run 10K events being held in stunning locations across the UK. Fashion designer Henry Holland and actress Phoebe Thomas, currently starring in Holby City, joined over 2,100 Cancer Research UK runners at our Run 10K event in Finsbury Park, whilst our Hampton Court event saw support from Apprentice winner Lee McQueen and Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott's girlfriend Melanie Slade.

All of our celebrity runners completed the course in very impressive times. Mel Slade said: "Running is a brilliant way to keep fit and Run 10k is the perfect challenge for me. Cancer Research UK is a charity very close to my heart as my sister had a tumour on her kidney which became cancerous when she was a teenager. Thankfully she made a full recovery so I know how important it is to keep raising as much money as possible to beat the disease." This year Cancer Research UK is aiming to raise £5 million from the Run 10K series.

Busking Cancer

Madness frontman Suggs, singer songwriter Sandi Thom and Britpop band Dodgy have all put their full support behind the musical fundraising challenge, Busking Cancer. Bands, musicians and singers from all over the country take part in a nationwide "gig" to help raise money for cancer research.

Suggs said:"Playing music is such a joyful thing and it's the soundtrack to all of our lives.I'm lucky enough to make my living from it but many people just play for the sheer fun of it. That's the joy of busking - you can just stand up and sing or play anywhere. People love to stop and listen. And to do it in aid of Cancer Research UK - to help anyone whose life has been touched by cancer - is just fantastic."

Sandi Thom said: "I think it's great to support cancer research in this way because it's fun, young, positive and will certainly gain the recognition it deserves."

Celebrities support It's A Girl Thing campaign

Penny Lancaster Stewart has teamed up with Cancer Research UK to photograph three women who have been affected by breast cancer for the charity's 2008 breast cancer awareness campaign - It's A Girl Thing. A surprise visit from Penny's husband Rod Stewart, who popped in to see how things were going, meant it really was a day to remember!

The ladies were thrilled to have their hair styled by Trevor Sorbie on the day and excited to be the faces of the campaign supporting Cancer Research UK's famous breast cancer awareness bath ducks. The posters will appear in more than 600 Cancer Research UK shops across the country.

This year, the ducks were given a celebrity makeover and were designed by Sharon Osbourne, Twiggy and legendary Biba designer Barbara Hulanicki.

Olympic gold medal boxer James DeGale joined ten breast cancer survivors for a day of luxury on board a mobile beauty salon. A double decker powder pink bus was turned into a mobile beauty salon to complement CR-UK's 2008 breast cancer awareness campaign "It's A Girl Thing."James and the survivors were helping to spread the message about being breast aware and encourage people to hold fund-raising events to support the charity's life-saving research. James said:"I'm a fighter but these ladies have all faced tough battles of their own against breast cancer. I'm delighted to be able to lend some weight to their awareness campaign and encourage everyone to get fundraising and help KO breast cancer."

Eddie Nestor backs Relay For Life

Eddie Nestor – actor, stand-up comic, radio presenter, well known for his roles in The Real McCoy, Desmond's and BBC Radio London's drivetime show - is throwing his weight behind Cancer Research UK's Battersea Relay For Life and is encouraging people to take part in the 24-hour event which takes place on 13th and 14th September at the Millenium Stadium. Eddie himself has had a personal experience of cancer, having been was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in February last year, and wrote a moving blog about his cancer experience.

Eddie said: "The Cancer Research UK Relay for Life is a unique event – part entertainment, part fundraising and part moving memorial. It's a lot of fun for those taking part in the track event and the sideshows and the evening Candle of Hope ceremony is a lovely tribute to those who have lost people to the disease. The money raised really will make a difference. It will go towards the charity’s life-saving research – the kind of research that can help save lives like mine."

Celebrities Race For Life

Race For Life got off to a fantastic start in 2008, with thousands of women taking part to raise funds and awareness for Cancer Research UK. They were joined by a host of celebrity supporters at various venues across the UK, all doing their bit to support the series. At our event in the City of London lifestyle presenter Linda Barker, celebrity chef Nancy Lam, The Bill actress Cat Simmons, presenter Korin Nolan and Coleen’s Real Women winner Sasha Parker took to the city streets to run, jog or walk the 5K course, while Race For Life Patron Gloria Hunniford and The Green Goddess Diana Moran gave inspiring talks to the women taking part.

In Scotland Kaye Adams and Lorraine Kelly took part in their local races in Glasgow and Dundee respectively, in Swansea Joanna Page, running in celebration of her mum who is a breast cancer survivor, was cheered on by her husband, actor James Thornton, and Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon lent her support to Race in Northern Ireland. Other celebrities who are also supporting Race For Life this year include Arabella Weir, Suzanne Shaw, Liz McClarnon, Carol McGiffin, Nicole Cutler, Lara Lewington, Liz Fuller, Jaime Jay, Phoebe Thomas, Sarah Cawood, Vicky Binns, Clare Nasir, and Martin Clunes, who being a man was unable to take part but had the honour of starting the Dorchester Race and waving through the participants.

TV stars Ant & Dec kept their promise to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia survivor Chloe Gambrill to be top of her Race For Life sponsorship list. The duo promised to back Chloe last year after presenting her with the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year award.This year Little Star Chloe completed her local race in her best time ever.

Celebrities stay SunSmart

Singer songwriter Sandi Thom, Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton, weather presenter Sian Lloyd and actor Andy Newton Lee are all supporting Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart campaign this year.

Natasha said: "Because of my hair and skin colour, I’ve always had to be careful not to burn but now I’m a mum of two I’m more aware than ever of the damage the sun can do. I love being outside with my boys and I take extra care to make sure all of us are safely covered up when sun comes out, which means t-shirts and hats for the kids, big sunglasses for me, and high factor sunscreen for all of us."

Andy, a skin cancer survivor, said on his experience: "I never dreamed I could get skin cancer. I was young and I tanned easily so I didn't think I was at risk. I understand more than anybody the reasons for wanting to get a tan, but the long-term damage just isn't worth it."

Sandi, 27, teamed up with Cancer Research UK to warn youngsters about the dangers of using sunbeds. Shocking images of how Sandi could look in thirty years time through overexposure to UV rays, which in some sunbeds can be 10-15 times higher than those of the midday sun, were created using age-modification technology.

Sandi used to be a regular sunbed user and would visit her local tanning salon up to three times a week while at university in Liverpool.

Sandi said, "I'm in a state of shock and the thought of looking like this at 57 is terrifying. Having seen these images I can honestly say I am never going to use a sunbed again. You can so easily get brown from a bottle these days, there is just no point in ruining your looks and risking skin cancer by using sunbeds. I hope the horrible image of me will make other young people think twice before they next use a sunbed."

Familiar Faces on the Cancer Research UK Garden

The Cancer Research UK Garden won Gold for the fourth time in 2008 with Andy Sturgeon’s stunning contemporary woodland garden. The garden, inspired by the enormous amount of progress that Cancer Research UK has made and continues to make in its vision to beat cancer, itself was an inspiration to all who visited. Celebrities joined us on the day and signed our book of messages:

"A garden of great depth – wonderfully forward looking". Alan Titchmarsh

"Wishing you continued success in your quest. It is lovely to celebrate with you the progress being made." Anneka Rice

"Thank you for your labour and thank you for your progress and here’s to the future." Martin Clunes

"Congratulations on a fabulous display – real progress." Piers Morgan

"Another fabulous garden. Well done." Kim Wilde

"With sincere congratulations for this amazing display. My best wishes for success." Albert of Monaco

"Thank you for the minutes spent in your beautiful, thoughtful and serene garden – and thank you for the phenomenal work you do." Juliet Stevenson

Celebrities win money for Cancer Research UK

This year celebrities have pulled out all the stops to brush up on their general knowledge and cookery skills to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page took part in the celebrity version of Ready Steady Cook and won with her recipes for success, and Coronation Street’s Samia Smith showed that she certainly knows her stuff on Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Despite being just newlyweds, Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton and husband Riad Erraji proved that they new each other inside out on Celebrity Mr and Mrs. All celebrities donated their winning to cancer research UK which goes towards funding our vital research work.

Celebrities run for charity

On Sunday 13th April celebrity runners Ronan Keating, Kelle Bryan, Phoebe Thomas and Andy Newton Lee took to the streets of London with 35,000 other participants to run the Flora London Marathon. Like many of the other 1,500 people who ran for for Cancer Research UK, each had personal reasons for taking part, and the months of preparation and training certainly paid off as all finished the race in impressive times.

Ronan, who ran in memory of his mother Marie Keating and crossed the finish line at a very respectable 3 hours 59 minutes, said "Running my first Flora London Marathon was an incredible experience. Thanks to all those who cheered us on and huge thanks for all your donations and messages".

Celebrities "Make Today Count"

On February 29th, to mark the leap year and "Make Today Count", celebrity hairdresser James Brown hosted a spectacular celebrity auction to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, David Beckham, Dita von Teese, Sienna Miller, Coleen McLoughlin, Peaches Geldof, Lily Allen, Sophie Dahl, Sadie Frost, and many other stars from the world of music and fashion donated clothing and accessories to help raise vital funds for the charity. On the day James' close friends Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Kelly Osbourne and Meg Matthews all turned out in force at our Marylebone shop to help support the fundraising activities. James Brown, who has worked on numerous high profile fashion shoots, campaigns and catwalk shows, contributing to the meteoric rise of Kate Moss from new face to style icon, has very personal reason for supporting Cancer Research UK having lost a family members to the disease and so feels very strongly about the cause.

Comedy actor and presenter Christopher Biggins also lent his support to the charity to launch the Make Today Count campaign, and met with staff and volunteers at the Cancer Research UK shop in Marylebone High Street.

Christopher said: "It's a brilliant idea to encourage people to use their extra day to help others. We all know someone who has been affected by cancer and I wanted to use 29th February to help raise money to beat this awful disease."

Actress Tamzin Outhwaite used Cancer Research UK's Give With Flowers to make a difference. Tamzin said: "It was so easy just to do one little thing for the Make Today Count campaign. I sent a bunch of flowers to my mum, my aunt Sandra and nanny Lina who have all been affected by cancer."

Sound & Vision 2008

The historic Abbey Road Studios was again the setting for the charity's third annual Sound & Vision event. Performers Beverley Knight, 10cc and The Brand New Heavies along with host Al Murray and DJ's Bob Harris, Dave Lee Travis and DJ Spoony came together for an fantastic evening of music and iconic photography.

The studios were filled with 50 pieces of rock memorabilia including original artwork, classic album covers and iconic limited-edition photography. Lots included portraits of Thom Yorke, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and John Lennon and original artwork from the likes of Editors, Magic Numbers and Beck. Guests were treated to stunning performances, with Beverley Knight singing her hits 'Made it Back' and 'Queen of Starting Over', The Brand New Heavies playing classic tracks and music from their acclaimed album 'Get Used to It', and 10cc performing classics such as 'I'm not in Love' and 'Dreadlock Holiday. The event, of which Sir George Martin is patron, raised amazing £165,000 on the night.

The Bucket List

Actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and director Rob Reiner flew into the UK to attend the premiere of their film The Bucket List. The premiere, of which Cancer Research UK was the benefitting charity, took place in London's Leicester Square. The film tells the story of billionaire Edward Cole (Nicholson) and mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) who have nothing in common except for their illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die. In the process, they become unlikely friends, and ultimately find the joy in life. Celebrity guests who attended the premere included Sir David Frost, Matthew Wright, Al Murray and Vanessa Feltz.