FREEMASONRY TODAY
Supporting ovarian cancer research [Photo: Shutterstock]
Grand Charity
£1 Million for Ovarian Cancer Action
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is
supporting Ovarian Cancer Action’s vital
research and awareness work with a grant
of £1 million. The Council of the Grand
Charity was inspired to recommend a
further significant grant for research into
cancer following the popularity of a £1
million donation to The Institute of Cancer
Research to fund The Grand Charity of
Freemasons Chair of Molecular Biology
for research into male cancers.
When The Freemasons’ Grand Charity
talked to freemasons and their wives about
how they would like to see a major grant
directed, they heard stories like that of
Sandy Dunster, wife of Clive Dunster of
Exmoor Lodge, who, nine years ago, lost a
much-loved friend to ovarian cancer.
Sandy had known Di Watts for 25 years and
their husbands were both policemen as well
as members of Connaught Lodge No. 3573.
The two families had grown up together and
supported each other throughout the years.
Di had already been diagnosed with
ovarian cancer when Sandy had to move
back to Somerset to care for her mother and
brother. Up until the move, Sandy was able
to care for Di and support the family’s
needs. Once she relocated, Sandy missed
the daily contact with the Watts family
terribly and in particular her best friend, Di.
But their friendship remained strong
despite the distance and Di’s illness.
Sandy comments: “Di was such a positive,
vibrant, gorgeous and fun-loving girl that it
was a great shock to everyone who knew
her that she had ovarian cancer. Naturally,
we were all devastated when she died from
the disease.
“When my husband became Master of the
Lodge, we both wanted to use his term and,
in particular, the Ladies Night as an
opportunity to raise funds and awareness of
ovarian cancer.
“Not enough is known about the causes and
treatments for the disease – so research is
vital to improve women’s chances of
surviving it. In addition, awareness of the
disease and its symptoms is incredibly low
amongst women – meaning that they tend
to be diagnosed once the disease has spread
and limiting their chances of survival.
“Until Di was diagnosed, I had no idea that
only 30% of women diagnosed with ovarian
cancer will survive beyond five years. I was
determined to do my bit to improve
women’s chances of surviving the disease.”
She added: “Once I started to speak to our
friends and Clive’s fellow lodge members,
I was overwhelmed by the level of support
people expressed for my charitable work
and Ovarian Cancer Action. Once we
started to speak about the disease, I was
shocked to hear so many stories of loved
ones who had been affected by the disease.
“Men who had previously appeared guarded
and private, shared incredibly personal
stories relating to their wives, mothers,
sisters and friends who had the disease.
“I was overwhelmed by the extraordinary
generosity and support that members of
Clive’s lodge showed. Before fundraising
and raising awareness for Ovarian Cancer
Action, I lacked confidence because I was
fairly new to the area.
“But, as a result of organising the event and
feeling so strongly about raising funds and
awareness for ovarian cancer, I felt incredibly
positive about the extraordinary generosity of
people in general and, in particular, my
husband’s fellow Lodge members.
“The whole experience has helped me to
mourn Di’s passing and celebrate her life in
a really positive way. That’s exactly what
she would have wanted.”
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s grant to
Ovarian Cancer Action is a response to
stories like Sandy’s and will help to tackle
ovarian cancer on two fronts.
Firstly, it will help to fund a range of activities
to improve awareness of the early symptoms
of the disease, because early diagnosis can
significantly increase the chances of survival.
Secondly, the grant will fund research work at
The Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre
at Imperial Hammersmith Hospital –
Europe’s only dedicated ovarian cancer
research centre, which operates under the
directorship of Professor Hani Gabra.
For more information on ovarian cancer
and Ovarian Cancer Action’s research and
awareness work, visit www.ovarian.org.uk
or call 020 8238 7605.
OUR WORK IN 2008
The Freemasons’
Grand Charity:
Our Work in
2008 is being
distributed with
this issue of
Freemasonry
Today. Do have
a look at it –
it includes lots
of information
on how The
Freemasons’
Grand Charity supported masonic
individuals and charities during the most
recent financial year.
Copies of Our Work in 2008 and other
information leaflets are available free of
charge for distribution at meetings or
events. Please contact The Freemasons’
Grand Charity on 020 7395 9261 or
info@the-grand-charity.org
All publications are also available to print at
www.grandcharity.org
Issue 48, Spring 2009
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© Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 1997-2010
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