North East Promenaders Against Cancer (NEPAC) began in an isolation room in ward 8 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle in 1989. It began because doctors and nursing staff of the Haematology department of the hospital saved the life of my husband George.

George and his great friend Benjamin Luxon, the world famous opera singer who has sung at the Last Night of the Proms in London, came up with the idea of a thank you concert to raise funds for the marvellous work being done at the RVI for blood related cancers.

Since that first concert, held at the City Hall in Newcastle in 1990, was so successful, it has become an annual event and to date we have raised and given out over £700,000. As we are a voluntary organisation all monies raised go directly to where it is locally needed: the RVI research team, local hospices, cancer support groups, and specialist nursing support.

However the success of these concerts is totally dependant on the financial support of our sponsors so that every penny raised, either from ticket money or donations, goes directly towards the fight against cancer. In order however to raise this money we have to find funding to pay for the hire of the City Hall, and for tickets, programmes, soloists expenses, orchestra and orchestral scores. Not a lot in comparison with what we can raise but nevertheless a vital amount if we are to succeed.

Raising funds for charitable purposes through music is not the most common method but is one, which we think gives much pleasure. Are you able to help us please? We are hoping again to find 10 sponsors who are able to give £2000 per Company/Charitable Trust. All sponsors will be acknowledged in the programme, local media, and City Hall publicity on the night is exclusive to the sponsors.

In addition to the current work of NEPAC through music, we are hoping to raise further funding of £150,000 to create a fellowship for a clinician or scientist to be appointed to the School of Clinical Medical Sciences, R.V.I. Newcastle, to take forward our understanding of the non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas as more young people and adults are being diagnosed with this illness each year. These research studies aim to identify, in particular, the differences in the types of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (there are 30 different categories) so that they can better tailor the treatment for each individual and each group of tumours and prolong life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and we look forward to hearing from you in the hope that you may be able to support either of our appeals and also join us at our concerts.

If you can help in any way please contact Rosalynde Walker at:

NEPAC Charity	Tel - 0191 2866751
11 Highfield Road	Fax - 0191 2866751
Westerhope
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE5 5HS	Email rosalynde@nepac.org.uk