Pancreatic Cancer Action
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate of the 22 most common cancers, largely due to late diagnosis. Our aim has always been to raise as much awareness of, and proceeds for, Pancreatic Cancer Scotland, as possible.
Pancreatic Cancer Scotland (PCS) was formed in 2010 by a group of patients, carers, nurses and doctors in Scotland to share hope, knowledge and action in the battle against pancreatic cancer. In 2020 PCS entered a new chapter merging with Pancreatic Cancer Action (PCA).
Our formal support of PCS began in 2017 when we launched our ‘Charity of the Year’ programme, enabling us to provide significant support to one charity for the entire year. That year, we hosted our first Summer Ball at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow attended by some 400 plus guests, with host Des Clarke and auctioneer Tam Cowan. The Summer Ball was enjoyed by all in attendance with entertainment, raffles, auctions, a live car giveaway and a fantastic band, and allowed us to raise over £56,000 in much needed funds for the charity.
Choosing to support PCS again in 2019 as our Charity of the Year, we hosted a second Summer Ball at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow, this time raising over £81,500 for the charity. For our second Summer Ball, we welcomed almost 500 guests to the event which was co-hosted by Des Clarke and Tam Cowan. Guests at the event were wined, dined and entertained by pianist, John Rankin, solo vocalist, Amy Lawrence and the band, Seattle, throughout the evening. As had come to be expected from our Summer Ball events, we gave away a huge number of prizes to attendees, including our star prize giveaway of a car which was picked up by one lucky winner on the night. Our thanks go to the Belmont Group who partnered with us to giveaway the car.
In November 2019, we took on a few extra challenges too in support of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month which included a challenge to walk 4 million steps. As a team, we managed to smash our target, collectively walking over 4.7 million steps (the equivalent of walking from Glasgow to the North Pole!)
On Saturday 9 November 2019 we hosted “Purple Thistle Day” at our sponsored club, Partick Thistle FC’s home game versus Greenock Morton FC, with over 60 friends, family and associates of both Just Employment Law and Pancreatic Cancer Scotland attending hospitality for the day with a purple theme throughout – supported by the Club’s players, management, backroom staff and the Club’s mascot, Kingsley!
Following our 2019 year of fundraising, we were delighted to hand over a cheque for £92,220 to Pancreatic Cancer Scotland. Our Managing director, David McRae, said: “We are delighted to end the year by handing over a cheque for £92,220 to Pancreatic Cancer Scotland as a result of our fundraising efforts during 2019. It was a team effort by all at Just Employment Law. PCS is a very worthy charity and one we’re proud to support and partner with.”
With the commitment of our team to supporting Pancreatic Cancer Scotland and following their merger with Pancreatic Cancer Action in 2020, we took the decision to permanently partner with the charity from 2020 onwards as they work towards making the 2020’s the decade of change for pancreatic cancer.
In 2020, with the global pandemic forcing us into lockdown on more than one occasion, it was clear that the charity required even more support to raise funds and awareness of pancreatic cancer. Members of our team decided to support the charity by taking part in a virtual Kiltwalk, collectively raising over £5,300. With the support of our sponsored team Partick Thistle FC, we organised a second Purple Thistle Day which, although sadly could not be attended by us or our guests, helped to raise awareness of the condition. Finally, we hosted an online auction in November, ending on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, where we auctioned off some 200 plus prizes. By doing so, we raised a further £31,500 for the charity.
In 2020, with the global pandemic forcing us into lockdown on more than one occasion, it was clear that the charity required even more support to raise funds and awareness of pancreatic cancer. Members of our team decided to support the charity by taking part in a virtual Kiltwalk, collectively raising over £5,300. With the support of our sponsored team Partick Thistle FC, we organised a second Purple Thistle Day which, although sadly could not be attended by us or our guests, helped to raise awareness of the condition. Finally, we hosted an online auction in November, ending on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, where we auctioned off some 200 plus prizes. By doing so, we raised a further £31,500 for the charity.
A proud moment for us was the launch of the new special edition goalkeeper kit from Partick Thistle, who we are the principal sponsor for during their 2021/22 campaign. The eye-catching purple goalkeeper kit will carry the logo of Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland, and will be worn by the Jags’ goalkeepers throughout the season.
During Pancreatic Cancer awareness month we raised £73,000 for the charity from an online auction, which ended on 18 November 2021 (World Pancreatic Cancer Day.) This brought our total raised for fundraising during 2021 to £73,140.
Our total raised for Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland to date now stands at over £250,000!
