Beating cancer sooner

464. Carl Neale

Carl initially fell into volunteering almost by accident when he went along to a Race for Life event in 2002 to take photographs of his family at the race. However due to a lack of volunteer staff at the event, Carl got involved with helping at the event last minute. Finding it an amazing feeling, he hasn’t stopped since then.

Since then he has taken on a variety of roles at the events, including managing the course and start areas at over 150 race for life challenges. He has become a local volunteering hero in his community through his presence at these events. Through the volunteering efforts of Carl and other Race for Life volunteers these events have raised over £1 million for Cancer Research UK in recent years.

As well as volunteering, Carl has also helped to raise a huge amount of money for the charity. He has inspired the whole city to get involved, organising Swansea’s first ever Breast Cancer Awareness campaign in 2011 including a flash mob of 120 volunteers in the city centre. Carl also led on Turning Swansea Pink, encouraging local businesses in the area to dress their windows pink for the day, and even recruited First Cymru as a supporter to paint and brand a bus pink for Cancer Research UK.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“Carl has worked tirelessly for over 14 years to raise a huge amount of money for Cancer Research UK. He has inspired hundreds of other people to give their time and money, and got the whole city of Swansea on board with flashmobs and shops helping to turn the city pink. His volunteering has helped to fund the important work of Cancer Research UK and I am delighted to recognise him as a Point of Light.”

Carl said:

“It is great to be able to give something back to the community. I can’t think of a better way to spend my Sunday mornings than with thousands of women in a muddy field all with just one mission, to beat cancer sooner.”