We announce founder’s daughter as founding patron
Wednesday 4 October 2023
We’re delighted to announce our founder’s daughter, Christina Lakin, as founding patron.
Christina Lakin’s father, Patrick Dolan, set up The Britta Dolan Memorial Cancer Fund, now known as Bowel Cancer UK, after his wife, Britta Dolan, died from bowel cancer on 7 October 1987.
The Britta Dolan Memorial Cancer Fund was founded to develop treatments for bowel cancer. Patrick was frustrated with the lack of treatment options, information and support for patients with the disease in the UK, which meant he had to turn to specialists in America for his wife’s treatment.
With the support of colleagues and friends, Patrick raised the equivalent of half a million pounds in donations of chemotherapy supplies and hepatic artery pumps, of which Britta was one of the first to benefit from in 1986. Patrick also obtained financial support for consultant surgeon Professor Tim Allen-Mersh and a research nurse to undertake clinical trials in the UK.
Thirty-six years after Patrick set up the charity in his wife’s name, Bowel Cancer UK employs around 70 staff across the UK raising over £6 million a year to fund our vital services and lifesaving research. Just last year we provided 1.8 million moments of support to people affected by bowel cancer, funded new research grants totalling almost half a million pounds, and launched an award-winning #GetOnARoll campaign, partnering with major retail brands to put bowel cancer symptoms on loo roll packaging in millions of households across the UK.
This year we launched our new strategy which sets an ambitious milestone that by 2028, more than 7 in 10 people will be diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 when the disease is easier to treat.
Christina Lakin says: “I am deeply honoured to be announced as the founding patron for Bowel Cancer UK. My father's unwavering commitment to this cause and his dedication to improving treatment options for my mother and those affected by advanced bowel cancer have always inspired me. I am proud to carry on his legacy and work alongside this incredible charity to continue our shared vision of a future where nobody dies from the disease.”
Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Christina Lakin as our founding patron. Her passion and commitment for Bowel Cancer UK, combined with her personal connection to our history, make her a truly invaluable asset. We are grateful to have her by our side as we continue to make strides to ensure more lives are saved from bowel cancer.”
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Above: Watch our video announcing Christina Lakin as founding patron, and hear about her experiences.
