University honours cancer campaigner

A major local fundraiser for cancer charities in Tayside and North East Fife is to receive an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews.

Dr Jacqui Wood, Chairman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign since its establishment in 1991, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon LLD) for her outstanding contribution to cancer research.

The Ninewells Cancer Campaign was formed with the aim of establishing and maintaining Dundee as a world leading Centre of Excellence in Cancer Research aiding in the development of new and better treatments for patients with cancer.

Every penny raised by the charity goes directly to help fund the world leading research into cancer that is being undertaken at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School.

Since 1991, Dr Wood and her team have raised £17 million to fund many projects, including the Biomedical Research Centre, The Princess Alexandra Cancer Treatment Centre at Ninewells Hospital, the Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, and Photon Radio Surgery Systems.

Dr Wood was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Dundee Teaching Hospital NHS Trust from 1993 to 1999.  In 1996 she established the ‘Keyhole Kate’ charity shop in the concourse of Ninewells Hospital.  The aim of this shop is to raise funds for patient and visitor comforts and Jacqui continues to be its chairman.

Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, Jacqui and her family moved to Lincolnshire where she was educated at Scunthorpe Grammar School. She married Aubrey in 1966 and they have two daughters, Sarah and Rachel.  As well as being a member of the local Cancer Research Committee and school governor, she was appointed a Magistrate in 1983, serving on the Scunthorpe Bench.  The family moved to Dundee in 1985.

Jacqui was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Scotland in 1986 sitting on the Dundee bench before moving to the Angus Bench in 1996.  She retired from this position in 2009.

A Trustee of the Leng Charitable Trust, Board Member of Dundee College since 2002 Jacqui was awarded an MBE in 1998.  She was made a founder member of Cancer Research UK in 2002, appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Dundee in January 2005, and holds honorary degrees from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay.

Dr Jacqui Wood will receive an honorary degree during the University’s traditional summer graduations on Wednesday 24th June at a ceremony in the Younger Hall.

ENDS

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:

AN IMAGE IS AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE – CONTACTS BELOW.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Fiona Armstrong, Press Officer on 01334 462530 / 462529, Mobile: 07730 415 015 or Email: [email protected]
Ref:  Jacqui Wood 02/06/09
View the latest University press releases at www.st-andrews.ac.uk