It's probably a bit surprising to see a Christmas picture in a spring newsletter, but we think it's too good a photo not to share.

This is our Cancer Research Unit staff saying "thank you" to Warwick staff who gave over £2,000 to cancer research during a recent dress-down day.

We were delighted so many staff chose to give cancer a dressing down at Christmas by wearing jeans and Christmas jumpers on Friday 19 December 2014.

Collectively we raised over £2,100 including Gift Aid and all these donations went to supporting pioneering cancer research at Warwick.

The day was enthusiastically supported by staff members Natasha Lynch and Sarazann Bhangal from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, who worked with the Development Team to get the message out across campus. They said:

When we heard about the new Cancer Research Unit at Warwick, we immediately wanted to do something to help raise awareness as, like others, we didn’t know about the research being undertaken by colleagues at the Medical School. Cancer affects us all in some way or another and we thought it would be great to support the amazing research as a Warwick community in a fun and festive way, to help raise some much needed funds along the way."

The £2,100 raised could fully fund one of the following:

• 105 tests on samples
• 57 racks for gel electrophoresis, which helps measure DNA in cancer cells
• 16 simple chemotherapy pumps, so that patients can receive their chemo treatment at home
• 7 days of translational research
• 3.5 days of testing new medicines in clinical trials

Dr Nick James, Director of the Cancer Research Unit, said:

I am so pleased that the Warwick community got behind this fun initiative, which has a serious message behind it. There has been a lot of press about cancer over the festive season; regardless of personal opinions on the subject, one thing is clear: more people are beating cancer than ever before, and our team here are determined to keep that momentum going by research into diagnosis, treatment methods, and patient care."

Dr Annie Young added:

As Professor of Nursing I see cancer patients every week - some who will get past their treatment, and some, sadly, who won’t make it. We all know someone touched by this terrible disease and it means a lot to me and the patients I work with that Warwick staff and students took part in the Dress Down Day to make a difference. Thanks to everyone who took part.

The next big fundraising day for cancer research at Warwick will be the Two Castles 2015.

The last time we ran for cancer research was in 2012 and 8 runners fundraised for Warwick; this year over 120 runners (or one in forty entrants) will be wearing our t-shirts with pride!

We're amazed by the dedication of our staff, alumni and friends, and if you're in Kenilworth on Sunday 14th June, please come along and cheer the team on! (Also, if you've signed up but haven't picked a charity yet, why not pick #TeamWarwickUni?)

Please email Charlotte Maytum at C.Maytum@warwick.ac.uk for more information.

Our vision: What if cancer could be detected with a simple blood test?

What if chemotherapy patients didn’t lose their hair?

What if we came up with new drugs like our ‘ZL105’ which could revolutionise cancer treatment?