Hospitality Beats Cancer launches with £10m target

Leaders from across the global hospitality sector have launched Hospitality Beats Cancer, a new initiative in partnership with Cancer Research UK that will fund life-saving cancer research through fundraising events around the world.

Hospitality is a community which makes a living looking after others, now it wants to extend that care to funding life-saving cancer research. Hospitality Beats Cancer’s goal is ambitious yet achievable: £10m to support Cancer Research UK.

Hospitality is built around people coming together – and that’s exactly what this is about,” said David Harper, chair, Hospitality Beats Cancer. “We’re inviting individuals and businesses to get involved, have fun, create unforgettable events and make a real difference. Whether you’ve got a big fundraising idea or simply want to help, join us.”

The launch was hosted by Mishcon de Reya at their London headquarters, with more than 150 senior members of the hospitality sector in attendance.

Hospitality Beats Cancer is preparing a series of exciting fundraising events, including an international cricket match in Papua New Guinea, a charity walk along Hadrian’s Wall, a cycle relay challenge, a music festival uniting hospitality and entertainment, and an ambitious endurance feat: four marathons in four days across four capital cities.

The campaign is calling on hotel groups, restaurants, pubs, bars, event organisers, travel businesses, suppliers and individuals to get involved in any way they can — from sponsoring events and forming corporate partnerships to launching fundraising challenges or becoming campaign ambassadors.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving and improving lives with research - and has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double over the past 50 years.

Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research into the prevention, detection and treatment of more than 200 types of cancer through the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. The organisation helped prove the link between tobacco and cancer, preventing millions of deaths worldwide; their research led to the development of the HPV vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90% of cervical cancer cases in the UK; as well as playing a leading role in the development of abiraterone – a drug that gives men with advanced prostate cancer more time with their friends and family.

“We stand on the brink of discoveries that will transform how we understand and treat cancer.” said Simon Ledsham, director of relationship management at Cancer Research UK. “With the support of partners like Hospitality Beats Cancer, we can bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”