Cancer research charity appoints chief executive

Alastair Richards has been appointed chief executive of Lancaster-based North West Cancer Research.

He joins the charity after spending more than 16 years working within the not-for-profit sector. He has held various finance-based and change management roles at organisations including The Abbeyfield Medway Valley Society, Self Unlimited and Vitalise.

Alastair joins North West Cancer Research as it announces a record-breaking year of fundraising, securing £1.5m worth of charitable income, as well as committing to funding £2.2m worth of cancer research over the next three years.

“The charity benefits from a unique network of fundraisers, researchers, trustees and advisers who work in collaboration to ensure it is at the forefront of driving change and delivering the biggest impact on local cancer issues.”

To date North West Cancer Research has funded £1m worth of projects based at Lancaster. This includes projects which explore prostate and skin cancers, as well as basic bench research looking at cancer cell behaviour.