Rose is Charity's UK Volunteer of the Year
When Rose Dalton came unscathed through a health scare she starting fundraising to help others who were not so lucky.
Now seven years on, Rose has received a national award from Cancer Research UK in recognition of her outstanding, motivating and inspiring contribution to the cause.
Now seven years on, Rose has received a national award from Cancer Research UK in recognition of her outstanding, motivating and inspiring contribution to the cause.
The charity’s annual Flame of Hope Awards recognises remarkable efforts in fundraising and volunteering made by people from all walks of life.
Rose, 62, a retired child protection social worker, from Chavery Down, Ascot, scooped the Volunteer of the Year accolade, after beating off stiff competition from across the UK.
She picked up the award last week (Friday June 12) at a special ceremony in London hosted by Cancer Research UK’s Chairman, David Newbigging.
An audience at the Russell Hotel in Russell Square heard how Rose’s involvement with the charity’s Relay for Life fundraising event had been “nothing short of exceptional.”
After establishing and chairing a Relay For Life in Ruislip, Middlesex, which raised £60,000 for Cancer Research UK, Rose moved her home and her fundraising focus to Ascot. Having persuaded 22 strangers to form a fundraising committee, in its first year the Ascot Relay for Life had 38 teams, 62 survivors and raised around £88,000.
This year’s plans are even more ambitious and Relay for Life, at Ascot Racecourse on July 18 and 19, hopes to raise over £100,000.
Having recently seen an empty shop in Ascot High Street, Rose secured the use of its window to showcase Relay for Life. She has spent much of Royal Ascot week securing further support for her event.
Lisa Chambers, the Cancer Research UK Area Volunteer Manager, who nominated Rose for the award said: “Her involvement with Relay For Life has been nothing short of exceptional.
“As well as pioneering Relay locally she has mentored and trained new Relay committee members throughout the country.”
Lisa said Rose’s approach was motivating and inspiring. “Speaking confidently and proudly about Cancer Research UK is something that comes naturally to Rose and she never tires of doing so.”
In 2007 Rose became one of the charity’s international ambassadors after visiting the American Cancer Society, where the idea of Relay for Life was born.
Rose said: “I had a health scare in 2002 which I thought was cancer. It was a huge relief when I was diagnosed with diabetes. Cancer would have been a completely different story with awful treatment and possibly even loss of life.
“But I thought it was a good time to start a healthy lifestyle and try and give something for people who didn’t get my chance.
“I was invited to a Cancer Research UK presentation which featured somebody from the American Cancer Society and I was completely sold on Relay for Life from then.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the charity in my retirement. I found the award ceremony very inspiring and I met so many wonderful people.”
Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK chief executive, said: “Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and supporters without whom we would not be able to fund outstanding scientists, doctors and nurses.
“Our Flame of Hope awards give us the opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to these enormously generous volunteers and supporters for the fantastic work they do.”
Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK spokesman in Berkshire, said: “These awards are our way of saying thanks to the people like Rose who are the lifeblood of our organisation – people who give of their time freely to raise money for research and promote greater awareness of the disease, and yet ask for nothing in return. We salute our supporters everywhere because together we will beat cancer.”
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