The Duke of Kent participated in a video call with blood cancer researchers earlier last week to thank them for their ongoing support in raising awareness of the condition.
The Royal Family Twitter account shared a snippet of Prince Edward’s conversation with volunteers from Blood Cancer UK, where he said, “As Patron, it’s always been inspiring and exciting to hear about the work that all the volunteers have done. Their fundraising efforts have really been heroic over the years.”
The Duke of Kent continued, “Something like £500 million has been invested and put into research, which has clearly made a prodigious difference in the way treatments are carried out. I know that blood cancers are now much better understood. Nevertheless, the challenges still remain.
“It is to express thanks and appreciation to all those people who have worked so hard all this time towards beating some very very troublesome difficulties and diseases.”
The Royal Family Twitter noted that “It’s estimated that 250,000 people in the UK have a form of blood cancer, and Blood Cancer UK has raised £500 million towards groundbreaking research, transforming treatments, and saving thousands of lives.”
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer UK has been leading the charge for awareness and research since 1960.
The charity’s official website notes that “We’re here to beat blood cancer. We do this by funding research that take us closer to a cure. Right now, our community is funding 360 researchers across the UK who are searching for the next breakthrough. Our research has already helped transform treatments and taken us to the point where the day we will beat blood cancer is now in sight. Our researchers are working to finish the job.”
The Duke of Kent has been patron of Blood Cancer UK since 1972.
