BHW Announces Charity Partnership in Aid of Cancer Research

BHW Solicitors has announced a vital charity partnership with the Leicester HPB Unit in aid of pancreatic and liver cancer research.

BHW has donated £1000 to mark the beginning of the partnership. Throughout the year, BHW partners and staff will be raising money by completing various challenges and activities. BHW also aims to help raise awareness of the conditions and the excellent work undertaken by the HPB Unit.

BHW Solicitors name Leicester HPB Unit as their charity of the year. BHW Partner Jack Khurana presents Prof. Ashley Dennison of the HPB Unit with a cheque for £1,000.

Professor Ashley Dennison MBChB, MD, FRCS is the HPB Unit research lead in Leicester and also the lead clinician responsible for “sense checking” initiatives for service improvement and delivery.

Professor Dennison said “Organising studies and analysing samples to help us learn and understand the processes involved in the development and resistance of cancers is very expensive.”

“We are delighted that BHW has chosen to support the Leicester HPB Unit. Their backing and future fund-raising efforts will play an important part in enabling us to continue this vital work in the field of pancreatic and liver cancer research.”

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that affects up to 8,000 people each year in the UK. It is the 4th most common fatal cancer in the UK and has a worst survival rate than any other cancer. Sadly, one person dies of pancreatic cancer every hour, and only 5% of patients live for five years or more after diagnosis.

The most common form of cancer of the liver is the result of tumours which have spread from the bowel and this affects around 18,000 people each year.

The Leicester HPB Unit at Leicester General Hospital regularly conducts research into the causes and treatments of these cancers. Unfortunately, there is very little money available from the government or major charities who concentrate on better known cancers such as breast, lung and prostate.

Participants celebrate completing the Leicester HPB Unit 100 mile cycle challenge

The partnership launch coincides with the HPB Unit’s 6th annual charity bike ride which took place on Saturday 23rd June. Patients, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, friends and relatives all participated in the gruelling 100-mile cycle challenge, including BHW Partner, Jack Khurana. Starting out at Café Ventoux in Leicester and finishing in Hunstanton, the event this year has raised over £30,000 for the Leicester HPB Unit.

Jack, who is Head of the Dispute Resolution department, said “The cycle event was superbly organised and great fun. It was very tough and a momentous achievement by all involved.”

BHW Solicitors is a 9 Partner specialist commercial firm based at Grove Park, Leicester. BHW employs nearly 70 staff and is one of the largest law firms in the region.

Jack added “BHW are really pleased to announce this charity partnership. Having lost a number of family members myself to both pancreatic and liver cancer, I realise the importance of the work being done in Leicester by the surgeons and scientists at the HPB Unit. We look forward to raising lots of money for this worthwhile cause over the coming months.”

BHW staff and management (from left): Binita Thobhani, Ed Nurse, Cris Pollard (Leicester HPB Unit), Professor Ashley Dennison (Leicester HPB Unit), Paul Davis, Beverley Knight, Jack Khurana, Dr Eyad Issa (Leicester HPB Unit), Daniel Rennocks, Raj Hundal and Sarah Newcombe.

For more information about the Leicester HPB Unit visit their website at www.hpbleicester.com.