Jen and Alison's Trotternish Ridge Race for UHI's MyMelanoma research
Alison Wilson is raising money for University of the Highlands and Islands
Participants: Jen Vanderhoven and Alison Wilson
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. Jen and Alison are fundraising for MyMelanoma research at UHI, our staff charity of the year, in memory of a key member of the university's health research team.
Dr Sharon Hutchison was a colleague in our melanoma research group at UHI. She was researching the genetic predisposition to melanoma and how the genomic changes within melanomas influenced the body's immune response to them. Sharon was an excellent, thorough and enthusiastic researcher who was not only very dedicated to her projects, but also to promoting sun safety and active skin checks in public forums.
Sharon was herself diagnosed with a cutaneous melanoma at the start of 2019, which arose from an existing mole on her neck. Her melanoma was particularly aggressive and despite receiving the most up-to-date treatment options, she died at the end of December 2019. Sharon is a much missed member of UHI's melanoma research team.
MyMelanoma (https://www.mymelanoma.org/) is a new initiative that is aiming to recruit a large number of people who have been diagnosed with a melanoma, in order to answer the questions most important to patients. This is an ambitious and exciting new study that will be the largest melanoma research project undertaken in the UK. The first study to take place at UHI as part of MyMelanoma will focus on the genetic predisposition to melanoma, asking the question: why are some people more likely to develop a melanoma? The funds raised here will be specifically towards this research project at UHI, a study Sharon would have been working on herself.
The Trotternish Ridge Race is a tough one -17 miles of running on steep (6,000 feet ascent) and difficult terrain, on a route that requires solid navigation skills, hill running experience, and good levels of endurance. Jen and Alison are training and racing as a team, each bringing their own strengths to support one another. Neither has attempted this ridge race before and while they know it will be hard work they are looking forward to the challenge, especially as it is for a good cause! They are grateful for any support you can give to spur them on.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity..
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity..
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