The husband of the late Dr Jacqui Wood is to take a prominent role in the Ninewells Cancer Campaign (NCC).
Aubrey Wood wants to ensure that the campaign continues to go from strength to strength and exists as a fitting tribute to his wife. He has agreed to become vice-chairman of the campaign his wife led for many years, raising an astonishing £17 million so far.
Lady Fiona Fraser, who has been involved also for many years, has agreed to step up from vice-chairman to take the leading role.
“Nobody had any doubt at all that continuing was the right thing to do,” she said.
Lady Fraser announced that the next appeal that the NCC would take on will be named the Jacqui Wood Memorial Appeal and, in the spirit of the campaign over the last two decades, would be for a local project. A number of possible schemes are under consideration but a decision on which project will be supported by the memorial appeal has yet to be decided.
Dr Wood died in May after a long battle against cancer, which followed the earlier loss of the other campaign stalwart Dr Pat McPherson.
Dr Wood’s enthusiasm and drive and her ability to communicate with all kinds of people on many different levels made her the recognisable face of the campaign, pulling in many donations and spurring many to take on fund-raising challenges.
During her protracted illness nobody had the heart or the desire to consider succession planning, but Dr Wood was adamant the appeal was much bigger than one person and should continue after she was gone.
Lady Fiona said the campaign was still receiving cheques and cash from people who wanted to give a donation in her memory. In addition there had been three “substantial” legacies within the last month.
“People have always identified with the campaign and the fact that it is based locally and run locally by volunteers and all the money is spent locally,” she said, emphasising that would not change. “I am very honoured and happy to be taking on the role of chairman and delighted Aubrey has agreed to be vice-chairman.”
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“Aubrey has always been in the background, supporting Jacqui in her work. To have him as vice-chairman is going to be terrific and it gives us a sense of continuity and a link to Jacqui.
“We have agreed that all the money coming in since the time of Jacqui’s (funeral) service would be going towards this new special appeal we will be launching, called the Jacqui Wood Memorial Appeal. I think people would like to know it is going to that.
“We haven’t decided what the project will be but it will be directly for the benefit of patients. Always in mind, since the Ninewells Cancer Campaign started, is that the money should be spent for the benefit of patients and on projects that would not be funded by the NHS.”
Mr Wood paid tribute to the people who supported his wife.
“There have been many occasions when I accompanied Jacqui when I have been humbled to experience numerous acts of unselfish giving, often by people who had so little themselves,” said Mr Wood.
What made Dundee stand out from anywhere else he and his wife had been was “the kindness, generosity and friendliness” of its people.
He praised the contribution of D. C. Thomson, which permitted the use of the Help Dennis Beat The Menace logo and gave extensive coverage to fund-raising events, saying that support had been crucial.
“Without D. C. Thomson the campaign could not have been the immense success that it has been, with every penny of the £17 million raised going straight into Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, benefiting not just the health of people in Dundee and Tayside, as well as benefiting the local economy, but also, because cancer research in Dundee is now world leading, benefiting people throughout the world.”
The committee of the NCC includes Dundee University principal Peter Downes, dean of the medical school Professor John Connell, retired former dean of the medical school Professor Peter Howie and Ninewells Hospital-based cancer researchers professors Bob Steele and Roland Wolf.