CHC Helicopter has pledged to donate £5,000 to Cancer Research UK to celebrate the charity’s patron Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The company made the donation on behalf of staff working at CHC’s operations in Aberdeen, North Denes and Humberside, as well as search and rescue crews in Sumburgh, Stornoway, Lee-on-Solent and Portland, on June 5th.

Cancer Research UK was put forward to receive the funds by Wayne Rowlands, one of the maintenance team based in North Denes.

Nick Mair, Regional Vice President Western North Sea at CHC, said: “As we fly for both the oil and gas industry and the coastguard search and rescue service, operational requirements meant we were unable to celebrate the Jubilee by giving our staff the day off like many others across the country. We thought it was fitting to make a charitable donation to Cancer Research UK, which the Queen is patron of.

“Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research and its groundbreaking research has saved millions of lives. We are delighted to support such an important cause and hopefully the funds we donate will make a difference.”

Mark Colley-Davies, Cancer Research UK area volunteer manager for Aberdeen, welcomed the donation: “Over the past 60 years Cancer Research UK has made a huge difference in how cancer patients are treated. We couldn’t have made any progress over the past six decades without the generosity of our supporters, for which we are extremely grateful. We don’t receive any government funding for our research, so we rely on public donations to enable our scientists, doctors and nurses to keep making breakthroughs now and in the future

“In terms of cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival, the picture has changed almost beyond recognition and it’s thanks to donations like these from CHC Helicopter.”

Cancer Research UK spends around £31 million a year in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. In Aberdeen, Cancer Research UK is investing in state-of-the-art imaging research. Scientists are using sophisticated imaging techniques to understand exactly how drugs work in the body. These techniques are invaluable in the development of new therapies and could help doctors find the best way to treat individual patients.