Press Release

Ealing Police Backs Cancer Awareness Drive

8 November 2006

The battle against cancer has gained a new recruit - Ealing Police has joined the ranks of organisations across the borough, who are taking part in a major drive to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease. As part of an initiative run by The Rotary Club of Hanwell & Northfields and The Institute of Cancer Research, the police will be providing free information leaflets to staff, that highlight the signs and symptoms of the nine most common types of cancer.

By raising awareness of cancer and its causes, symptoms and treatment, the initiative hopes to encourage early detection of the disease, which is vital in ensuring the most successful treatment. Ealing Borough Police will be making the leaflets available to staff in canteens and the Safer Neighbourhood Offices, additionally they will be available in the public areas of the main police stations.

The Cancer Awareness drive is also being supported by Ealing  Council which is making the cancer pamphlets available to staff through the Occupational Health Unit, at all main council offices and the staff intranet.  They will also be placed in public reception areas at all of the main council buildings.   Ealing’s Library Service will make the cancer pamphlets available in all 12 libraries in the borough.  In addition, three GP surgeries and two High Schools (staff rooms and libraries) are making the pamphlets available. 

The partnership between Rotary and The Institute of Cancer Research was launched this summer to raise public awareness about cancer and its symptoms and help save lives. Rotary Clubs across the whole of Great Britain and Ireland have been provided with a series of cancer information leaflets  for distribution in their local communities.

Elsa Crockert, Borough Internal Communications Officer at Ealing Borough Police said: “Ealing Borough Police are pleased to support the work of the Rotary Club of Hanwell and Northfields and The Institute of Cancer Research, by accepting the Cancer leaflets and making them available to all staff and to the general public in our station offices.”

Susan Folwell, Ealing Council’s Wellbeing Adviser, said: “Making information widely available is essential to raising public awareness of cancer. Many cancer risks are preventable and many cancers can be treated far more effectively if they are diagnosed early on so leaflets such as these are essential.”

Alan O’Neill, Immediate Past President of The Rotary Club of Hanwell & Northfields said: “ We were delighted to have the opportunity to support the Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) relationship with The Institute of Cancer Research, and this has enabled us to develop links with a number of organisations in the community who can help us to get the message out to as many people as possible.