A pair of newly-wed scientists who met while studying at Dundee University have been chosen to launch this year’s fundraising World Cancer Day.
Dr Stephen Hobson and Dr Suzannah Harnor met when studying biochemistry at Dundee University in 2003 and married last December.
Both now work in cancer research and are urging Scots to wear a Unity band, available for a suggested donation of £2, to show their support for the fight against cancer on February 4.
World Cancer Day is designed to raise awareness of cancer and to promote its prevention, detection and treatment.
Stephen, 35, said: “Suzannah and I have been fortunate to work within the cancer research community helping to fight the disease.
“Money raised through donations for Unity bands will help fund more research into cancer.
“By wearing a Cancer Research UK Unity Band, people can show solidarity to those affected by the disease at the same time as supporting more research to find a cure and kinder treatments.”
Following their undergraduate course, the couple both went on to complete PhDs at the Glasgow, before helping in the fight against cancer side by side as research associates in Newcastle .
Suzannah is a research associate at Newcastle University in the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, working as part of the Cancer Research UK Drug Discovery Programme identifying new molecules for cancer targets in areas of unmet medical need.
Her work involves hands on medicinal chemistry, designing and synthesising molecules that one day may become new cancer treatments.
Stephen, who was born in Dundee, recently left the team to take on a new role as PET Radiochemistry Production Manager with Newcastle University, where he is leading a team developing molecules for use in PET imaging that helps doctors to diagnose cancer and other diseases.
Suzannah, 35, said: “We both have so many happy memories of our time together in Dundee.
“Stephen and I have spent a majority of the last 14 years working and living together and people are often surprised that we can manage all that time together, but we think we are incredibly lucky to have studied and worked in the same cities at the same time.
“It wasn’t done intentionally, but it just worked out that way and it’s been great for us. Many researchers aren’t so lucky and are located in cities away from their loved ones and have to manage long distance relationships.”
Lisa Millett from Cancer Research UK said: “Making a donation and wearing a Unity Band is a simple, easy way to help fund vital research.
“We need everyone to join together and back our doctors, scientists and nurses who are working on the front line to beat cancer every day. More Unity bands worn means more research, more treatments and more cures.”
Unity Bands are available in all Cancer Research UK shops and online at www.cruk.org/worldcancerday
