PENGUINS AGAINST CANCER
RESEARCH
Penguins Against Cancer Research Awards
PAC has a number of financial Awards given to support cancer research. These Awards are administered by the PAC Research Committee (and partner organisations where applicable), chaired by Simon Hughes, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Director of Guy’s Cancer Academy. Each Award has distinct Terms of Reference which, alongside Application Forms, are available below.
The Awards are:
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The Fergus Scholefield Paediatric Brain Tumour Research Award - £10 000 (jointly funded by PAC and Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity [OPBTC] each organisation providing £5 000). Named in honour of Fergus, son of Barney [GHRFC 1st XV] and Lou. Fergus died of a brain tumour before his third birthday and is remembered by this award, and also by the annual GHRFC Fergus Cup rugby match. This award supports research into Paediatric Brain Tumours.
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The Chris Howell Urological Cancer Research Award - £10 000 (jointly funded by PAC and The Urology Foundation [TUF] each organisation providing £5 000). Named in honour of Chris Howell [Guy’s graduate, very longstanding GHRFC player and Vice President, and Founder Trustee of PAC]. Chris is a prostate cancer survivor. This award supports research into Urological Cancers.
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The Ruth Prosser Women’s Cancer Research Award - £5 000 funded by PAC. Named in honour of Ruth Prosser [Guy’s graduate and Consultant Anaesthetist]. Ruth is a breast cancer survivor. This Award supports research into all cancers found in women with a particular focus on: Breast, Ovarian and Cervical cancers.
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The Urological Cancer Small Projects Research Initiative - £20 000 (jointly funded by PAC and The Urology Foundation [TUF] each organisation providing £10 000). This award supports small, quick impact projects aiming to assist with management of Urological Cancers.
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The Simon Lau Pancreatic Cancer Research Award - £5 000 funded by PAC. Named in honour of Simon Lau [Guy’s graduate and GHRFC 3rd XV Captain] who died from Pancreatic Cancer just before his 34th birthday. This award supports research into Pancreatic cancer.
Work continues in collaboration with other anti-cancer organisations. A further eponymous Award supporting research into Colorectal cancer, in partnership with the Red Trouser Day charity, will be announced on 6 Nov 24.
Charlie Beardmore
PAC President
13 Sep 24
Simon Lau Pancreatic Cancer Research Award
The Penguins Against Cancer Research Committee (PACRC)
The PACRC exists to oversee the granting of PAC Research Awards, specifically:
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The Fergus Scholefield Paediatric Brain Tumour Research Award (£10,000 annually, jointly funded by PAC and Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity each organisation providing £5 000)
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The Chris Howell Urological Cancer Research Award (£10,000 annually, jointly funded by PAC and The Urology Foundation each organisation providing £5,000)
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The Ruth Prosser Women's Cancer Research Award (£5,000 annually funded by PAC)
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The Urological Cancer Small Projects Research Initiative (£20,000 jointly funded by PAC and The Urology Foundation each organisation providing £10,000)
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The Simon Lau Pancreatic Cancer Research Award (£5,000 annually funded by PAC)
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The RTD-PAC Simon Bunting Colorectal Cancer Research Award (£10,000 annually, jointly funded by PAC and Red Trouser Day, each charity providing £5,000)
The PACRC consists of the following members who are to be either re-elected, or replaced, annually at the PAC AGM:
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Simon Hughes (Research Committee Lead)
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Ian Abbs
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Charlie Beardmore
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Ben Challacombe
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Barney Scholefield
The PACRC will only consider formal applications submitted via the approved application process (accessible via this website) according to established criteria. Awards will be made to those applicants who receive the most votes. In the event of a tied decision the Research Committee Lead will have a casting vote.
The PACRC will notify the successful applicant within 30 days of a decision being made. Award recipients will be required to keep the PACRC appraised of progress in their research and to acknowledge PAC’s contribution in related publications, presentations and posters.
The Fergus Scholefield Paediatric Brain Tumour Research Award: £10,000 annually
Fergus Scholefield was a young man who, at the tender age of 2, battled through the treatment of his brain tumour with the support of family and friends. Sadly, it was not possible to cure him of the disease and Fergus died before his third birthday. His bravery inspired Penguins Against Cancer and his parents, Barney and Lou, to set up the Fergus Scholefield Paediatric Brain Tumour Research Award. In 2024 PAC and Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity will each provide £5 000 to create a £10,000 award to support Paediatric Brain Tumour research. Applications will undergo a rigorous assessment via the PAC Research Committee.
The Chris Howell Urological Cancer Research Award: £10,000 annually
Chris Howell is an Oral Surgeon who qualified in Dentistry at Guy’s Hospital last century and played rugby for Guy's Hospital RFC (the oldest rugby club in the world) for over 50 seasons. He was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2015 and, following successful treatment at Guy’s, has remained in remission. Chris was a founder Trustee of Penguins Against Cancer (PAC) and has remained a stalwart supporter throughout. PAC is now collaborating with The Urology Foundation (TUF) to provide an annual £10,000 award to support research into Urological cancers. £5,000 of this award is funded by The Urology Foundation. The PAC Trustees and TUF have agreed that this will be titled the Chris Howell Urological Cancer Research Award. Applications are made via TUF, this will then be reviewed by the PAC Research Committee.
The Ruth Prosser Women’s Cancer Research Award: £5,000 annually
Ruth Prosser is a Consultant Anaesthetist who qualified at Guy’s Hospital. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, but is now in remission following treatment, and has returned to work full time in the NHS. Ruth is providing authentic and tangible support to the Penguins Against Cancer (PAC) research effort by agreeing to be the champion for PAC’s Women’s Cancer Research. The award will support research into all cancers found in women with a particular focus on breast, ovarian and cervical cancers. In recognition, PAC’s Trustees have decided to provide a £5,000 annual award to be titled the Ruth Prosser Women’s Cancer Research Award. Applications for the award will be considered by the PAC Research Committee.