Yorkshire Cancer Research Give Cancer The Boot At Castle Howard

Yorkshire Cancer Research has launched a new art installation to help raise awareness of its mission to save lives in Yorkshire.

The charity, which is dedicated to helping Yorkshire people avoid and survive cancer, is launching its annual fundraising campaign, ‘Give it Some Welly’, as part of its aim to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in our region.

To officially launch the campaign, the charity has teamed up with Yorkshire artist Anita Bowerman and Castle Howard to celebrate the 191,000 people in Yorkshire who are living with or have survived cancer thanks to advances in early diagnosis and treatment.

Together, they have created a stunning welly-based sculpture in the grounds of the castle in York. The piece, titled Give Cancer the Boot, is made up of 191 stainless steel wellington boots, with each welly representing 1,000 people who are living with or have survived cancer in Yorkshire.

The art installation, which is located on the South Front in the grounds of Castle Howard, is now open until Monday 3rd August.

To prevent cancer, increase early diagnosis and improve treatment for cancer in the region, the charity is aiming to raise £10m this year so it can help more people ‘give cancer the boot’ for good.

To raise these vital funds, Yorkshire Cancer Research is encouraging people across Yorkshire to fundraise this Yorkshire Day (Saturday 1st August) as part of the charity’s ‘Give it Some Welly’ campaign. Whether it’s wanging them, wearing them, or baking some welly themed cakes, the charity is asking people across the region to get out their wellies and raise vital funds.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said:
“While it’s positive that survival rates are improving, too many people are still having their lives cut short by cancer. Delays in diagnosis and treatment during the coronavirus pandemic means we need to do all we can to minimise the impact for people in Yorkshire.

“In the past few months, life has come with increasing challenges and apprehension about what the future might hold, so the continued support of people in Yorkshire means more to us than ever before. With our ambitious target to fund £10 million of world leading research to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer every year, we need the people of Yorkshire to join us in raising life-changing funds, so we can continue our work in helping more people give cancer the boot for good.”

Anita Bowerman, the Harrogate artist who designed and created the installation, added:
“I am honoured to be involved in this very worthwhile project and felt instantly inspired to create this boot design, cut out from stainless-steel and featuring Yorkshire Cancer Research's logo. I love the idea of 191 shiny boots on this 'tree of life', glinting in the light on a fir tree in the grounds in front of the majestic, iconic Castle Howard, and I hope it brings lots of joy to those that see it.

“I would like it to celebrate all the people in Yorkshire who have survived cancer in the past 25 years, and the people that will continue to survive in the years to come. My engineer brother has helped me create these hand polished boots, and finding a cure for cancer is particularly relevant to us as both our parents were diagnosed with it. I hope the piece helps people consider the work that still needs to be done to continue to increase survival rates in Yorkshire and will help Yorkshire Cancer Research to continue its great work across the region."

Hon. Nicholas Howard, owner of Castle Howard, said:
“It is an honour to welcome Yorkshire Cancer Research to Castle Howard and to be supporting the charity in its work to help the people of Yorkshire live longer and healthier lives. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our gardens to see the art installation and celebrate the 191,000 people in Yorkshire who have survived cancer, hoping that, together, we can help in raising funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research to continue its important work.”

Yorkshire Cancer Research is encouraging people across Yorkshire to raise money this summer in the run up to Yorkshire Day on Saturday 1st August.

To find out more and to download a free fundraising pack, go to: www.ycr.org.uk/welly