Cancer campaigner Francis Benali reaches £1.3 million milestone
Former Southampton FC footballer Francis Benali has reached £1,335,900.73 in his bid to help more people beat cancer.
The Cancer Research UK campaigner revealed the latest £157,000 to his total in a ceremony at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.
He completed three ultra-endurance challenges to support new clinical research.
Gruelling challenges
Francis, or ‘Franny’, Benali ran over 1,000 miles to every Premier League ground in the UK in just 21 days in 2014.
Two years later, he ran and cycled to 44 Premier League and Championship grounds over a fortnight. He then attempted 7 Ironman triathlons in 7 days in 2019.
The latest donation follows a gala ball to celebrate Mr Benali’s achievements at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium.
The May event included an auction of football memorabilia and a trip to meet popstar Robbie Williams.
Francis Benali MBE said: “My family and I are eternally grateful for the support of so many people who have helped raise this huge sum of money for Cancer Research UK.
“Without so much kindness and hard work none of this would have been possible.
“The recent sell out gala dinner at St Mary’s Stadium typified the generosity shown by so many. The aim has always been to raise as much as we could so that more people can beat cancer.”
Southampton ceremony
Mr Benali celebrated reaching this latest figure with a special reception at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU).
Peta Durrant, Head of Operations at SCTU, said: “We are so grateful to Franny Benali for his continued fundraising efforts. Thanks to donations, we are able to continue to design and run clinical trials of new treatments for all types of cancers and new ways of detecting cancer at an earlier stage when it is more treatable.
“We are delighted to welcome Franny to the unit to celebrate his achievements and thank him for everything he has done to support our Cancer Research UK-funded work.”
‘Outstanding commitment’
Prof Tim Underwood, professor of gastrointestinal surgery at the University of Southampton, supported Mr Benali during his challenges.
He said: “Donations are absolutely vital to the work we do in developing new ideas, making discoveries and transforming our research into treatments that can help save lives.
“Over the past eight years, Franny Benali has not only shown an outstanding commitment to Cancer Research UK but he has collected an incredible sum of money to help fund people like me and my team, so that patients have a better chance of beating cancer.”
To support the challenge, please head to: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/iron-fran