A YEAR of fundraising paid off as the local Cancer Research UK team presented a cheque for £13,000 to Nevill Hall.

Jean Howells Davies, Chairman of Abergavenny and District Local Committee of Cancer Research UK presented the cheque to the CR UK Research Nurse Ietje Bowen and Linda Strange, area volunteer manager, Cancer Research UK.

The funds were raised by the Abergavenny Local Committee during 2008, the Committee's events included luncheons, raffles, garden parties and Christmas events.

Last year Cancer Research UK spent over £3.5 million in Wales on groundbreaking research into cancer. Scientists, doctors and nurses based in various location across Wales are working together to investigate how best to diagnose and treat different forms of the disease. We also jointly fund the Wales Cancer Trials Network which is celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year. And we continue to co-fund ten specialist clinical trial nurses to help find better cancer treatments for the future.

Nurse Ietje Bowen is part of the network of Clinical Trial Nurses working across Wales with the support of Cancer Research UK. They work alongside doctors to recruit patients to research trials and, at Nevill Hall, they work with patients who are on studies for breast, colorectal and lung cancer.

Linda Strange said, "On behalf of Cancer Research UK, a very big thank you goes to the Abergavenny Local Committee and to the people of Abergavenny and District who have supported the fundraising Committee during the past year.

"The money by Abergavenny Local Committee will help Cancer Research UK continue to commit funding to our vital work in Wales."