Enterprise Selects Cancer Institute as Chosen Charity

The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, one of Cardiff University's high profile research facilities, is delighted that the Enterprise Holdings Foundation has selected them as their chosen charity to support for the next year.

The Institute is the only centre in Europe completely focussed on cancer stem cell research and as a charity, relies on additional support from societies such as the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. One hundred per cent of all donations go directly into its laboratory.

Catrin Morgan, Strategic Account Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Wales and South West England first became aware of the Institute via information sent out on World Cancer Day and from there, met with Director of the Institute, Professor Alan Clarke.

"I was greatly impressed with the way that Professor Clarke explained the work of the Institute," said Catrin. "With what is a complex and highly emotive subject matter, it didn't take long to convince me to go back to our trustees at the Foundation to suggest that they support this cause for the next year. What is also impressive is that this world-leading research is being conducted on my doorstep here in Cardiff and I am very much looking forward to planning a number of fundraising events in aid of the Institute."

The Institute's mission is to change the current situation of inefficient drug development and a poor understanding of some cancerous tumours. "Cancer remains one of the major challenges in terms of life expectancy and is recognised as the second largest cause of mortality within the EU," said Professor Alan Clarke. "For some tumour types, our understanding of how to treat patients is so inadequate that they are currently virtually untreatable. From our improved basic research, the aim will be to develop new therapies which can be shown to make a real difference in the clinic and transform the survival rates for patients suffering from a range of cancer types.

"Being associated with a global brand such as Enterprise is a great boost for the Institute," continued Professor Clarke. "We were equally impressed with their social corporate responsibility programme and our collaboration seems like the perfect fit and we look forward to showing them how their fundraising efforts are being put to good use in our laboratory."

The Foundation, based in St. Louis, USA, is part of the parent group that operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Currently operating more than 370 locations across the UK, with over 3,000 employees, three quarters of the UK population are within five miles of an Enterprise branch.