Final year of the Oddfellows' cancer-fighting funding

Updated: 17 Sep 2024

Representatives from the Oddfellows have visited The University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology to mark the final payment of funding courtesy of the Society’s HA Andrews Memorial Fund.

(L-R) Edd, Tim and Nur from the Centre with the Oddfellows' Barbara, Eric and Peter

The Centre was chosen to receive the support in 2022, which was split over a three year period. The money is allowing PhD student Nur Zainal to study a specific gene which it is believed can be manipulated to target cancer cells in a new vaccine.

Chairman of the Society, Barbara Needham, was joined by her husband and former Chairman Peter and member of Guernsey Oddfellows Eric Ferbrache – who nominated the project for funding – handed over a cheque worth £34,000, completing three years of backing totalling £100,000.

Nur, along with her co-supervisors Professor Edd James and Dr Tim Fenton, welcomed the Oddfellows to the Centre. The group was given a tour of the facilities and an update on the progress of the project.

The tour marked the final year of the Oddfellows' funding of the project 

I’m delighted that the Society is in a position to help. Barbara Needham, Chairman of the Oddfellows

Barbara said: “Seeing the facilities and learning about the vital work the team in Southampton is doing really hits home the need for funding projects like this. I’m delighted that the Society is in a position to help.

“We were shown around and they did an excellent job of explaining how cancer works and what they’re doing to try and beat it. They also showed us some very expensive pieces of equipment - we’re talking house prices!

“Everyone is very impressed with Nur and her work and we were glad to learn that the project has managed to attract further funding and is able to continue after our involvement has ended.

“Thank you to Tim, Edd and Nur for making time for us and giving us an update on the project – keep up brilliant work!”

The Oddfellows' representatives were shown around the facility

About the Fund

The HA Andrews Memorial Fund was created in 1971 in the name of Herbert Arthur Andrews, a barrister who served as an Oddfellows Secretary for almost 30 years.

Andrews played a pivotal role in the government’s formation of the National Insurance Scheme and was honoured with an OBE in 1946 by King George VI for services to his country. The Fund was set up by the Oddfellows in his honour, enabled by an initial donation from his estate.

Herbert Arthur Andrews

Since then, the Oddfellows’ major charitable fund has donated £1,214,000 to medical research projects thanks to the generosity of individuals and our Branches.

The Fund’s focus is on providing financial support over a two or three year period to a UK project or organisation involved in, or conducting, medical research. The research must focus on improving society’s understanding, diagnosis or cures for diseases, mental and physical disorders, or any other conditions which adversely affect the quality of human life.

The Oddfellows members learnt about how cancer works

For more information about the many ways in which we give back to good causes, visit the Giving Back section of our website where you can discover more about the range and variety of projects we've supported over the years.

To find out more about HA Andrews, how to make a donation or to suggest a recipient for a future Fund donation, please visit our HA Andrews Memorial Fund page.