The Namibian Desert Hike in aid of Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres is a 130 km hike across the spectacular Namibian Desert in Southern Africa's National Park. Money raised from the 10 day hike will make a world of difference to cancer sufferers back home by enabling Maggie's to pioneer a network of Cancer Caring Centres across Scotland and the rest of the UK. The need for Maggie's Centres is huge; with 1 in 3 people affected by cancer, we will all need access to a Maggie's Centre at some point in our lives, be it as a patient, relative or friend. Based next to major cancer treatment centres, (the Dundee Maggie's Centre will be built at Ninewells Hospital and has been designed by the world famous architect Frank Gehry), they will each offer free information, psychological support, anxiety reduction and stress management.

Nimesh Mody is currently working towards his PhD in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, researching into the mechanisms of cell regulation involved in human disease, under the supervision of Sir Philip Cohen. Abnormal cell regulation is a cause or consequence of major diseases such as cancer while defects in genes that encode proteins involved in cell regulation underlie a number of inherited disorders, including a variety of leukaemias and lymphomas. The research undertaken now by Nimesh and his colleagues may be of benefit to cancer sufferers in 20 years time. Nimesh has chosen to participate in this fundraising hike to allow Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres to help people affected by cancer much sooner.

NOTE: See news item 24 July 2002 for update