In Memory of Claire Woods

Unfortunately, our colleague Chris Woods lost his sister Claire to melanoma on Boxing Day 2021. Claire was 35 years old. Claire showed incredible strength and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was cared for by the amazing staff at Clatterbridge Liverpool Hospital where she spent her final days. Clatterbridge Liverpool is one of three specialist cancer centres, with the others at Wirral and Aintree where Claire also received care.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread rapidly to other organs of the body. Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. Around 16,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year. More than 1 in 4 skin cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, which is unusually early compared with most other types of cancer. Over recent years, skin cancer has become much more common in the UK. This is thought to be the result of increased exposure to intense sunlight while on holiday abroad. More than 2,300 people die every year in the UK from melanoma.

By raising money, we would like to support the expert staff at the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity so they can continue to provide the high-quality care to patients diagnosed with cancer. We also hope the money can support research and development of new drugs, therapies, and trials. Clinical cancer trials are cancer research studies that involve people. Their main purpose is to find a better way to prevent, diagnose or treat cancer. These are happening now and is hopefully something that can save lives in the future.

Chris, his family and Provectus would also like to generate more awareness about this type of cancer. If anyone has a mole that has changed, or a new mole then please see your GP and get it checked. Insist on a biopsy if you are concerned. Melanoma is not always preventable, although you can reduce the risk by protecting yourself from the sun, avoiding sunbeds, and regularly checking your skin which can lead to early diagnosis.

Throughout the year Provectus staff will be taking part in fundraising challenges with all donations going towards The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

Provectus will be be donating of all the funds raised to the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity in Claire’s memory.

The first challenge to raise funds will be undertaken by Jon Owens. He will ride a 177km route of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen on 2 April. This is the day before the UCI Tour of Flanders professional race as part of the Belgian cobbled classic series. The route will cover the steep cobbled hills of the flanders region with many of these, including the fearsome Koppenberg, with maximum gradients of over 20%.

The race was initially run in 1913 with the only interruption being the first world war. It has been organised without hiatus since 1919.

The overall route will take Jon approximately 6-7 hours to compete.

If you are able to donate to our fund raising effort then please head over to our fundraising page link at the bottom of this page.