!VERY LATEST NEWS!

AMAZINGLY, donations exceeded £30,000 for 2011

Theo's return prompted some serious donations so that the SIXTH revised target for 2011 was a staggering £30,000. £7,500 has already been spent on the CONTESSA BLOOD CELL COUNTER which means that a massive £22,500 was sent on January 30th 2012 to get Enzo's team starting working on the NANOSTRING project at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

TOBY WALLACE (CUBC 1997-1999) is rowing in an 8 across the Atlantic in February and aiming to beat the existing record. He too will be raising funds for his mentor, Harry Mahon, who took him from Novice to a win in Goldie in 1997 and on to winning Blues in 1998 and 1999. He rowed 5 seat in the record-breaking 1998 crew so that is a good omen for success! Support Toby and donate now

Theo's return has prompted some serious donations so that the FIFTH revised target for 2011 is now a staggering £25,000

£7,500 has already been spent on the CONTESSA BLOOD CELL COUNTER which means that a massive £17,500 can get Enzo's team starting working on the NANOSTRING project at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Purchase of Cutting Edge Cancer Cell Analysis Equipment Draws Funds from Multiple HMCRT Supporters and Their Efforts - Record Fundraising Year for HMCRT

Theo Brun's Final Approach to Norfolk Culmination of a Great Year of Fundraising Ventures from Many of Harry's Former Oarsmen.

The HMCRT’s newest Nanostring cancer technology equipment purchase is made possible through funds drawn from multiple efforts from our supporters in recent months, including over £10,000 in donations to Theo Brun's transcontinental bike ride, over £2,500 from Nick Norgate's running, over £1,600 via Alex Sant's Middle Eastern marathoning and most recently funds from Jamie Hewitson's and Cameron Duncan's fundraising efforts. Theo's example has prompted many others to rally and dig deep both athletically and financially - many many THANKS TO YOU ALL!

This new Nanostring technology is being employed by Enzo’s laboratory team at Oxford who have demonstrated that tumour cells can hamper the ability of the immune system to fight cancer. In particular, most recent results have shown that one of the mechanisms used by cancer cells to suppress tumour specific immunity is related to their ability to modify the expression of genes. Factors secreted by cancer cells can activate proteins, called epigenetic regulators, which can switch on and off different parts of the DNA in immune cells, turning cells that should fight against tumours into cells that suppress the immune response, hence facilitating cancer growth. Expression of genes encoding these “regulators” can be monitored by new NanoString technology equipment. Enzo’s lab will use this technology to analyse more than 100 epigenetic regulators to see how they correlates with the failure of the immune system to fight cancer. This analysis may lead to the identification of potential targets for the development of drugs capable of improving the treatment of cancer. Cutting edge stuff; just what Harry Mahon ordered.

HMCRT MEETS & EXCEEDS 2011 FUNDRAISING TARGET - THANK YOU!!! ONGOING INITIATIVES BODE FOR FURTHER SUCCESS

2011 is proving to be a landmark year for the HMCRT which has raised more than double its initial fundraising target now counting in excess of £18,000 in donations. This is wonderful, in particular as it is the 10th anniversary of Harry’s passing and recognition of the support of many people over the last decade who have committed to back Harry’s wish for ongoing cutting-edge advanced research in cancer treatments. The Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust’s Donald Legget recently reviewed the Trust’s work and direction in an interview with Radio New Zealand which can be found at http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/sat/sat-20110903-1105-donald_leggett_rowing-048.mp3

This year’s major initiatives have included: CUBC-alum and Harry Mahon pupil Theo Brun's trans-continental Hong Kong - Norfolk bike ride which continues mightily and has garnered vast charitable giving and moral support, raising over £8,000 thus far for a Contessa Blood Cell Counter for the laboratory of Dr. Vincenzo Cerundolo adding to previous equipment purchases dedicated to cancer immunity research at the hospital Harry Mahon received much superb treatment at in the years leading up to his death;

Radley College and Pembroke, Oxford alum Alex Sants, on legal secondment to the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, has been running extraordinarily long distances in Jordan in preparation for the Jordan Ultra (JU) Marathon from the 7th-9th of September. The JU is 4 marathons, run over three days, through the Wadi Rum in Jordan. In doing so, Alex hopes to raise a minimum of £1500, to contribute towards a new PCR Machine – a thermal cycler that allows laboratory researchers to amplify sequences of DNA for deeper analysis (read below). Help Alex and donate now!

or, download printable PDF forms for mail-in donations (UK and US only)

Nick Norgate, having also decided to train in the desert in the Emirates (!) recently completed the the Cork Marathon and via Gift Aid raised over £2700 in what he called “by far in a way the most rewarding piece of exercise [he had] ever done” - see photo in sidebar. Thanks Nick!;

And, Trustee Donald Legget raised over £4,000 from donations to HMCRT from generous parents of the Radley 1st 8 at Henley and other Radley supporters this summer, everyone enjoying the atmosphere of the Steward’s Enclosure thanks to Donald’s kind introductions and hospitality.

All combined, the immediate use £3,000 of these funds has been directed to a WorkStation upgrade for Professor Cerundolo’s labratory FACS Canto machine, previously purchased by the HMCRT. Professor Cerundolo notes "This is an essential piece of equipment, which allows them to monitor the frequency of tumour specific cells in the blood of cancer patients".

Secondly his laboratory will purchase a new PCR machine - this machine allows them to amplify specific DNA sequences to study the genetic profiling of tumour cells. These machines cost ~£10,000 to buy Professor Cerundolo will use the £4,000+ HMCRT have immediately available in one of our part-funding schemes with his Department.

Most recently, Jamie Hewitson's and Cameron Duncan's own fundraising efforts could allow the Trust to potentially raise in excess of £20,000 in 2011! A huge thank you to you ALL! Harry would have been most satisfied at this result!

2011 HMCRT GOAL AND TARGET

Professor Vincenzo (Enzo) Cerundulo and his team at Oxford University would like HMCRT to purchase an "Automated Cell Counter" from Invitrogen to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Harry’s death on 19th May 2001.

The Countess, as it is trademarked, can easily be viewed by clicking on the link http://products.invitrogen.com/ivgn/product/C10311

The Automated Cell Counter allows very accurate and fast cell and viability counts both with cells from blood and tumour samples. It will be of enormous help to Enzo and his team and this is a joint fund-raising effort, see below, to achieve the target of £7,500. Any surplus monies will be used to purchase the items needed to keep the machine running, such as cell-counting slides, etc.

or, download printable PDF forms for mail-in donations (UK and US only)

2011 FUNDRAISING EVENT: CROSSING EURASIA BY BIKE - CUBC ALUMNI FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE

Many have been following Theo BRUN ’s slow trajectory across China as he continues on his bike ride from Hong Kong to the UK. He has now reached Urumqi in the province of Xinjiang where he is taking a few days rest (and awaiting the issue of a Kazakh visa) before continuing on towards Kashgar and then into the "Stans".

Theo is raising financial support for two different causes, with a clear target for one of them - HMCRT. He has already, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Harry’s death on 19th May, raised over £3,500 in a joint effort with Nick Norgate (see Nick's event details below). We are looking to make up the remaining £4,500 as soon as possible so Enzo and his team can begin using the "Countess". Any surplus funds will be used to buy the extras needed to keep the machine running.

You can read a little more about this appeal and what Theo wrote last December on this link - http://www.asfaraseastisfromwest.com/news/2011/05/12/new-fund-raising-target-for-hmcrt---%C2%A34500.html

Theo wishes us all the very best from (apparently) the centre of Central Asia! But thanks to his Iphone he can track your kind donations daily. Amazing modern technology !

Harry was one of Theo’s coaches during his years rowing at Cambridge and was an inspiration to him both on and off the water.

or, download printable PDF forms for mail-in donations (UK and US only)

JUNE 2011 FUNDRAISING EVENT: CORK MARATHON

Nick NORGATE (Radley and Nottingham University) is now working as an Architect in Dubai. He has signed up to run the Cork Marathon on the 6th of June following successful completion of the Dubai Marathon in January. He is running for HMCRT. Nick is a member of a coordinated fund raising effort to commemorate Harry’s death 10 years ago on 19th May. Nick has set himself a target of raising GBP 2,000 to assist purchasing the ‘Automated Cell Counter’. In the final weeks running up to the Marathon Nick is based in Kuwait and is hitting the Corniche on the Arabian Gulf hard after dark, when the temperature falls to a more reasonable 31 degrees.

Nick says ‘I had the privilege of being coached by Harry in the last months of his life in 2001 and can attribute my successes on the water at school, university and in the winning England U19 team to Harry, as well as my subsequent achievements off the water.’

Many will not know that this is a difficult time for Nick as his Dad battles with this terrible affliction. Please give what you can to this fantastic cause. Currently the total raised before this NOTICE was posted is over £3,500 and counting so we are approaching the 1,000 metre mark.

or, download printable PDF forms for mail-in donations (UK and US only)

NOVEMBER 2009 FUNDRAISING NEWS: HMCRT FUNDS LATEST IN CANCER RESEARCH WITH LARGEST INDIVIDUAL DONATION TO THE TRUST AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OVER 80 (!) SUPPORTERS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN RESPONSE TO ADAM MOFFATT and TOM PARKER's DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER CHALLENGE

We are delighted to report that the HMCRT has received over 80 donations in the last 8 months which has allowed us to finance the purchase of a refrigerated microfuge which is in use at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The HMCRT would like to take this moment to extend to all its supporters warm wishes as we approach the close of the year and thank you all for your support in our work.

Additionally, the HMCRT is proud to announce that it has since made a large single cash donation to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford University amounting to GBP 4,000 in October. A significant amount of this contribution is thanks to a considerable donation from a CUBC alumnus who has recently heard about the activities of the Trust and recalled fond memories of training with Harry in preparation for Olympic titles in the late 1980's. The funds from this donation are being used to further Professor Cerundolo's team's research into how cytoxic 'killer' T cells seek out and destroy tumours within the body (see Cancer Research link). This donation will finance the purchase of a "FACS Canto" benchtop analyzer which provides researchers with a proven platform for maximum reliability and proven performance in the analysis of proteins on cell surfaces that facilitate tumour infiltration.

We look forward to sharing more news with you about our goals in 2010 and ensuring Harry's legacy is as powerful as his time with us.

SEPT 2008 C.U.B.C. VICTORIOUS IN HARRY MAHON MEMORIAL TROPHY "GREAT RACE" EVENT IN NEW ZEALAND AND HMCRT SUPPORTS C.U.B.C IN THE 4TH CHINA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES REGATTA IN SHANGHAI

In September the HMCRT was pleased to be kindly supported by proceeds from King Street Great Race Ball, organized by Boathouse Events in the run up to the race for the Harry Mahon Memorial Trophy between Waikato University and Cambridge University. The C.U.B.C. scored their 2nd victory versus their antipodean foes with the score now even at 2 races a piece since racing began bi-annually in 2002. Also on hand for the event was New Zealand-based 1948 Cambridge Blue Chris Barton, who came up from Christchurch with his wife, Rosemary, to support and they also made a significant and generous donation to the foundation. HMCRT Trustee Donald Legget was on hand to oversee proceedings and added a good dose of imperial decorum to the proceedings, some of which was lost on our hosts.The Foundation would like to especially thank Rob Hamill and his team at Boathouse Events for their support as the HMCRT continues to expand its international footprint. See attached press release, video footage of the race and photographs here

A fortnight later in China, the C.U.B.C. competed in the 4th China International Universities Regatta at the Shanghai Water Sports Center in Qingpu, Shanghai Municipality. The competitiveness of the event's hosts, Beijing's Tsinghua and Beida University crews and boats from Shanghai's Jiaotong and Fudan Universities have advanced significantly since the inaugural event in 2000 where racing in Beijing placed the foreign crews at an open water advantage. Mirroring China's Olympic rise across various sporting codes, rowing included, this year the tables were turned. Though Cambridge managed to beat crews from UL, Harvard and Yale by margins of no less than 33 seconds they remained a length off the Chinese crews, who celebrated with...... fireworks! HMCRT representative John O'Loghlen attended the event from his residence in Beijing and presented the CUBC with Murphy and Nye team dress shirts and then quietly retreated back to the Capital to "save face" in light of the Middle Kingdom's rout of the event. Pictures of the crew, fashion and fireworks are here, courtesy of attendees Kieran West and Bernd Heidicker

JUNE 2008 - CANCER RESEARCH EQUIPMENT DONATION TO DR. VINCENZO CERUNDOLO AND STAFF AT JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL BY HMCRT CO-FOUNDER DONALD LEGGET

The HMCRT is pleased to have visited the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford University and formally presented funds to finance the ongoing purchase of start-of-the-art HPLC equipment to assist in the research of IDO protein enzymes that are commonly found in a large number of different types of cancer cells, including liver cancer and melanoma. A straightforward layman's guide to the IDO work being conducted by Dr. Vincenzo Cerundolo and his lab staff is available here: as well as additional photographs of the presentation ceremony

DECEMBER 2007, HMCRT TRUSTEE DR. JOHN BELL KNIGHTED IN NEW YEARS HONORS

On December 29th, Prof John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at University of Oxford, President, Academy of Medical Sciences, was Knighted for services to medicine. Sir John is a pre-eminent medical figure in immunology and was a life long friend of Harry Mahon dating back to Harry's times teaching Canada. Full details of Sir John's Knighthood, accomplishments and reaction to his award are here

2007 FUNDRAISING EVENT - DARREN RHODES COMPETES IN SEPTEMBER ROWATHON AT LAKE DORNEY TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND THE HMCRT

Read about the event: Henley Rowing Club oarsman and HMCRT supporter Darren Rhodes competed in 4K ergometer, 30K bike ride and 7.5K run on and around the 2006 World Rowing Champs Lake Dorney venue

HMCRT TRUSTEE CELEBRATES 40th YEAR AT C.U.B.C. WITH BOAT RACE VICTORY and SOFT LAUNCH OF HMCRT HEADWEAR FASHION!

On Saturday the 7th of April HMCRT co-founder and Trustee Donald Legget celebrated his 40th year of involvement with the Cambridge University Boat Club with a strongly contested win for the Blue Boat against Oxford in the 178th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race and a dominating victory for Goldie in their race against Oxford's Isis crew earlier in the day. Donald's achievement was recognized at the annual C.U.B.C. Blue's Dinner where Donald made special mention of the impact Harry Mahon had on Cambridge's performance and legacy as well as being an influence on his own personal coaching style. In closing his speech, Donald dedicated this year's victories to Harry with a special toast and encouraged his fellow Club members to continue their support of the HMCRT.

That same weekend saw the introduction of the HMCRT's new supporter's headwear - black cotton caps with Cambridge blue lettering. These caps will be for sale at Henley later in the year with all funds going directly the 2007 HMCRT fundraising goal. Surely this item will prove to be a must have for all serious regatta participants, watchers and towpath punters alike.

2006 Fundraising event - 1,200km solo ride through the mountains and deserts of Oman

Read about the event: On November 27th, Richard McElroy (Goldie 2000-2002) successfully completed the 1,200km solo ride.

As of Friday June 8, £3,500 has been raised for Richard's effort; Please continue to support and

HMCRT fondly remembers Cathy Cruickshank

Henley RC and HWR stalwart Cathy Cruickshank died on the 14th of September, after a short illness. Cathy’s funeral was held on Monday 25th September at Reading Crematorium and family and friends - including many from the UK rowing community - joined afterward for light snacks and drinks at Leander Club. Cathy took ill at Dorney where she was working as a volunteer just before the World Championships, and a few days later she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Cathy was a well known and popular supporter of rowing in the Thames region. She was Secretary of Henley Rowing club and Entries Secretary for Henley Women’s Regatta, and a member of the launch-driving team at Holme Pierrepont. Cathy very kindly requested that donations in her memory be left to the Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust. The Trustees extend their deepest commiserations to Ian, Andrew and Ollie and all of Cathy’s family at this time.

2005 Fundraising event - MT. Kinabalu CLIMBATHON RESULTS, STRONG FINISH FOR HMCRT

Read about the 2005 HMCRT team effort: John O'Loghlen finishes 44th out of 122 starters in the Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon. Read full race report (PDF) - support John and donate now

Also see NEW IMAGES in Harry's Crews section. 

Trustee Donald Legget admires the FACS Canto ii analysis equipment, partly funded by the HMCRT, with Prof. Enzo Cerundolo

Trustee Donald Legget and the staff of Prof.s Cerundolo's lab at the John Radcliffe Hopspital

Trustee Donald Legget with Prof. Enzo Cerundolo and Lab Technician Sarah Booth with the Refrigerated Centrifuge fully funded by the HMCRT

Donald Legget presenting the device to Dr. Vincenzo and his team

Donald Legget at the start of the Boat Race in the launch Amaryllis receiving the news of Goldie's clear win over Isis

HMCRT supporter's cap - launched at Henley Fashion Week July '07