Vienna (26th September 2012) On the 6th of October 2012 there will be another opportunity for individuals to actively contribute to a good cause: at the sixth run in aid of cancer research, organised by the Cancer Research Initiative of the MedUni Vienna at the Vienna University Campus (old Vienna General Hospital), each completed lap will bring financial support for cancer research in Vienna, a domain of expertise that is held in high international regard. Also lining up at the start will be Beate Schrott, a student at the MedUni Vienna who gained a commendable eighth place in the hurdles race at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
“It goes without saying that I’ll be joining this run for such a good cause,” says Schrott. “Every lap counts. And I want to do my bit.” The entrance fee is 10 Euro and can of course be supplemented with further donations.
Appeals are particularly being made to the corporate sector, however: for every completed lap by their runners, participating companies will give 5 Euro to the donations pot, which will be used to benefit cancer research directly. Last year, three relay runners completed over 50 laps of the cancer research run, which is equivalent to more than a marathon. Initiator Michael Micksche, however, points out: “It’s not a race, but rather a running experience for everyone, in aid of a good cause.” Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., anyone can join in and play their part in supporting cancer research. In 2011, 2,500 runners took part.
Raising awareness of the fight against cancer
Health and Social Affairs Councillor Sonja Wehsely highlights the importance of cancer research in the context of healthcare for Vienna's residents: “Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Austria. Almost 20,000 people died from it in 2011. This makes cancer research all the more important. Some types of cancer can be treated – thanks partly to the work of scientists in Vienna. But there is still a long way to go overall. This is why taking part in the run for cancer research is so worthwhile.”
“The run for cancer research will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the fight against cancer and establish additional, independent and private research funding. This will make it easier for us to define research priorities independently of commercial interests, allowing us to safeguard the very highest-quality research in the long term,” says the MedUni Vienna’s Rector, Wolfgang Schütz.
Growing numbers of cancer-related illnesses
The number of cancer cases is rising constantly. In Austria, more than 37,000 people develop cancer every year: 19,600 of them men and 17,400 women. Around 17,000 are treated each year at the University Department of Internal Medicine I at Vienna General Hospital.
Cancer research is one of the MedUni Vienna’s particularly successful focal areas of research. The Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) was founded in 2010. This was a milestone development, producing a cancer treatment centre that complies with the highest international standards and which is a joint institution operated by the MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital. The work of all of the physicians who specialise in cancer-related illnesses, which include general physicians, surgeons, gynaecologists, orthopaedic surgeons and scientists, is coordinated here. The CCC is also Austria’s national centre of reference for research, teaching and treatment for all forms of cancer.
Cancer Research Initiative
The “Cancer Research Initiative” was founded in 2005. The aim of this initiative is to obtain the research funding needed in order to keep cancer research at the MedUni Vienna competitive at an international level and to make intramural research independent of various interest groups.
Date & registration
The 6th Run for Cancer Research is taking place on 6th October 2012 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the course (850 m) at the university campus (9, Old Vienna General Hospital, Courtyard 2). Companies can register by e-mail at krebsforschungslauf@meduniwien.ac.at, and individual runners can just turn up at the start any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to validate their running card.