UPDATE - Issue 14 - April 2003
Royal Support for Prostate Research
Duchess of Gloucester becomes our Patron
Update joins the Trustees and members of their Advisory Council in expressing warm thanks to Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO who, with effect from 3rd March 2003, has become Patron of Prostate Research Campaign UK.
Within days of Her Royal Highness granting us her Patronage, our Chairman, Professor Roger Kirby and the charity's founder,Anthony Kilmister, called at Kensington Palace to discuss plans with The Duchess of Gloucester and members of her Household. It was clear from the outset that it is her wish to be seriously involved in furthering the work of our charity.
Only days after the Court Circular recorded the visit to Kensington Palace of our representatives, the Duchess crossed the Atlantic and was shown American prostate facilities in New York. Dr E. Darracott Vaughan escorted Her Royal Highness on a tour of Cornell University's New York Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr Vaughan pointed out to The Duchess of Gloucester not just some of the latest work on prostate cancer but also their Charter from King George III thus demonstrating a common bond between our two nations and a common urological cause.
In a message for all Update readers Her Royal Highness said: "I am very pleased to have been invited to become Patron of Prostate Research Campaign UK and look forward with particular enthusiasm to furthering the charity's important work. Since prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in men it may be helpful to underline the initiative that many women take in confronting this major concern for men. Prostate Research Campaign UK is to be commended for supporting work on benign as well as malignant prostate disorders. Until the charity launched its campaign this area had been somewhat neglected and I look forward to joining the assault on these serious medical conditions. I send my warmest good wishes to all the charity's supporters and readers of Update."
Already The Duchess of Gloucester has plans to visit laboratories supported by Prostate Research Campaign UK and in particular those directed by Professor John Masters. Subject always to the unexpected, Her Royal Highness plans to be present at our Annual Luncheon to be held at the Savoy in October. All of us will join in thanking The Duchess of Gloucester for her close interest and will re-double our efforts to expand the campaign by raising the funds necessary to push forward the frontiers of knowledge.