News

Professor Greg Rubin to light up Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

(28 May 2012)

Professor Greg Rubin from the School of Medicine and Health has been invited, by Cancer Research UK, to play a shining role in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Monday 4 June. He will join a group of cancer survivors, supporters and fellow scientists who are scaling Scafell Pike in the Lake District to light the charity’s ‘Beacon of Hope’, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons.

The climbers, which include model and TV personality Nell McAndrew and Radio 2 DJ Bob Harris OBE, will light up the night sky above England’s highest mountain to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.

Cancer Research UK is one of four charities that have been specially invited by Bruno Peek OBE MVO OPR, Pageantmaster, The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons, to light a Jubilee Beacon at the top of the UK’s four highest peaks.

Professor Rubin and the group will join Dr Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, as he lights the ‘Beacon of Hope’ at 22:29hrs on Monday 4 June 2012 – one minute before Her Majesty The Queen lights the national beacon in central London at around 22:30hrs.

Professor Rubin’s work in General Practice and Primary Care at Durham University is partly funded by Cancer Research UK and focuses on the development of strategies to improve early diagnosis of cancer.
He said: “It’s a great honour for Cancer Research UK to be asked to be part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons and for myself to be invited to participate in the event.

“I was asked as the Clinical Lead of a five-year partnership between Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). This work involves recognising the importance of GPs in early diagnosis of cancer and how they can contribute to better outcomes for patients.

“I’m taking part in the climb on behalf of all the GPs in the UK.”

Ahead of the climb, Professor Rubin will be part of a small ‘Ceremony of Hope’, which will give an opportunity for the climbers to commemorate Cancer Research UK’s vital work into beating cancer as well as memorable moments of The Queen’s 60 year reign.

On Monday 4 June 2012 more than 4,000 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, The Commonwealth, UK overseas territories and other countries around the world to mark this important and historic moment in The Queen’s reign and in her life also.

Professor Rubin’s role in the celebrations will be recorded in a special commemorative book which will be presented to The Queen after the event, listing all the UK’s beacons along with the names of the organisations and climbers involved. Cancer Research UK was also successfully involved in The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Beacons in 2002.

Cancer Research UK has made huge progress in the fight against cancer during the Queen’s 60 year reign and today more men, women and children are surviving the disease than ever before.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters the charity was able to spend more than £4 million in the North East last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.