Chair of Three Rivers supports prostate and ovarian cancer charities
‘For my friends’ – The Chair of Three Rivers District Council, Cllr Raj Khiroya, speaks about why he has chosen ovarian and prostate cancer charities to support during his time as the district’s first citizen.
Cllr Khiroya has chosen to support ovarian cancer charity Ovacome and local charity Friends of Prostate Sufferers (FOPS) and is hoping to raise £10,000 within four months.
The Chair is a-political, presiding over Full Council meetings and officially representing the council at public engagement. Cllr Khiroya, who represents Chorleywood South and Maple Cross, became the Chair in December 2023 following the resignation of the previous Chair, Phil Williams.
FOPS, which was established in 2009 by former teacher Bob Arthy who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, is a Chorleywood based charity that hosts support group meetings with people who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer to share their experiences and answer questions in a relaxed environment.
Ovacome is a national charity that has been providing support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. It was founded in 1996 by Sarah Dickinson, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and found there was little to no support or information available to those living with the disease.
In the UK, more than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – killing more than 12,000 every year. There are about 7,500 new ovarian cancer cases on average in the UK every year, killing more than 4,100 women*.
Cllr Khiroya said: “Cancer is an evil that sadly affects us all. I have seen people who are very close to me suffer from this awful disease.
“FOPS and Ovacome provide essential support and advice to those who suffer from prostate or ovarian cancer respectively as well as support their loved ones.
“That is why I am aiming to raise £10,000 to help them carry out their vital work. This is for my friends and the tens of thousands of people affected by prostate or ovarian cancer.
“I know it is an ambitious target, but I hope through my engagements and events, I will be able to hit and even exceed my target during my short time as Chair.”
The Chair will be hosting a quiz night on Saturday, 9 March 2024 at Moor Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth. The event will feature a variety of quiz rounds with a mix of general knowledge and fun trivia. Participants can expect a lively atmosphere, with opportunities to win prizes and engage in friendly competition.
Tickets for the quiz night can be found here. All proceeds directly benefit Friends of Prostate Cancer Survivors and Ovacome.
Alternatively, you can donate directly to FOPS and Ovacome by clicking on the following links:
FOPS (contact Bob Arthy): https://www.thefops.org.uk/contact.php
Ovacome: https://www.ovacome.org.uk/donate/support-ovacomes-work/5/credit-card