New shop officially opens in Leeds

We have officially opened the doors of a new shop in Leeds city centre.

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central, celebrated the opening of the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop on Vicar Lane alongside the charity’s Chief Executive Dr Kathryn Scott on Friday, 24th March.

We fund researchers and cancer experts who pioneer early diagnosis and discover new and better treatments to help more people survive cancer, in Yorkshire and beyond. The funds raised at the Leeds shop, thanks to generous donations and support from people in the region, allow the continued funding of this vital work.

Mr Benn said:“I was delighted to have been invited to open the new Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in the heart of Leeds, right in the front of the historic Leeds market building. Leeds has a higher rate of cancer than England as a whole, and we need better treatments and more research. It’s about saving lives. Cancer research is so important, and people can support it by coming in and buying some of the wonderful items in the shop.”

Dr Scott added: “Leeds is where Yorkshire Cancer Research first began back in 1925, so it’s particularly exciting to be welcoming customers in Leeds through the doors of one of our shops for the first time.

“From funding world-leading cancer research at the universities and hospitals to being the official charity partner of Leeds United, the charity has been a key part of the fabric of this wonderful city for many years, and the opening of the shop marks the next step in the charity’s relationship with Leeds.”

The opening, which included a ceremonial ribbon cutting, was also attended by Professor Phil Quirke, lead researcher on the Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme, a study funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, as well as volunteers who have supported the charity.

Professor Quirke, whose study aims to provide ‘gold standard’ bowel cancer treatment across Yorkshire, said: “I’ve been funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research to do cancer research at the University of Leeds since 1984, so it’s very exciting to see a shop open in the city. In Leeds, we’re at the forefront of research into bowel cancer and we’ve contributed to advancements in surgery and we’re continuing to contribute to advancements in research.

Pete Wheatstone, who was treated for bowel cancer in 2014 and now supports Yorkshire Cancer Research as a patient representative, added: “The funding that Yorkshire Cancer Research puts into cancer research in Yorkshire comes from shops like this and from the people who volunteer in them, so I think it’s really important to support them and give something back.”

Yorkshire Cancer Research was founded during a meeting at Leeds Medical School and since 2015, has invested £35.5 million into cancer research and services in the city.

The charity’s research is made possible thanks to decades of support from the Leeds community. The charity’s Leeds Volunteer Group has raised £1 million to help prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer in Yorkshire since it was first formed in 1958.

The shop opening was attended by the group’s co-chairs Irene Collins and Hilary Tammer, who have both supported Yorkshire Cancer Research for over five decades.

Hilary said: “I think it’s a great idea to open a shop in Leeds after all these years, and I wish it all the best. There are important funds to be raised here. It looks fantastic and it has a really nice vibe. It’s fantastic that things are being recycled too.”