As reported recently in Cambridge Evening News, father-of-three, Roger runs an engineering design firm in Cambridge, which has been responsible for the mechanical and electrical engineering design elements of several projects at the Babraham Research Campus since 2004. He started fundraising after a friend and employee, James Page, died of stomach cancer at the age of 27 in 2000.
Hearing about Roger’s courageous challenges, Derek Jones, CEO of BBT, approached the main building contractors (SDC), project management and design teams (Ernest Pasterfield & Partners – EP & P and Archial) to see about sponsoring his latest endeavour.
“The Babraham Research Campus is an inspirational site and it’s fantastic that the work we do makes some contribution to development of improved cancer treatments,” said Roger.
“My own response to James’ death has been to try to find a positive outcome worthy of his life and his family, so I’ve set challenges that hopefully will be enough to inspire people to give to this amazing charity. High altitude mountaineering is a test of physical and mental endurance but it is also a wonderfully pure experience with rewards that certainly match the effort. The generosity of individuals and clients over the years is both heart-warming and humbling, as well as a great motivator. I am truly grateful to BBT, the Institute, SDC, EP&P and Archial for their support. I have talked about this being my last fundraising challenge, but then I recently saw a documentary on the Antarctic mountains...”
“Roger has played a key role at the Babraham Campus over the last eight years, informing the design of our Bioincubator Buildings where several companies developing innovative diagnostics and therapies to tackle cancer are now based. Roger’s dedication to fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, through such tough personal challenges, is remarkable and has inspired this donation of £1000 in support of his demanding Andean adventure,” said Claire Cockcroft, Head of External Relations at the Babraham Research Campus.
Roger’s latest project at Babraham is approaching completion; the campus’ fifth Bioincubator Building is on schedule to open its doors in April and will provide a further 20,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space to early-stage biomedical ventures from across the UK.
Andrew James, Director of Archial, who has collaborated with Roger on several projects said, “High altitude mountaineering is like running a successful practice. There are highs and lows, but in the end - it's the highs that are remembered, as our joint successes at Babraham continue to demonstrate. Every wish to Roger from us all at Archial and remember the phrase from an early Victorian 'Alpiniste' and as applicable to mountains as professional services - 'Look carefully toward each step, and remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence. Very best of luck.”
To donate directly to Roger’s latest challenge, visit https://macmillan.tributefunds.com/JamesPage.