News
22-Apr-2008 - Kevin Whately accepts cheque from LGC for
Alzheimer´s Society
LGC presented a cheque for £15,114.31 to the actor Kevin
Whately, star of the UK television detective series ‘Lewis’, on
behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society when he visited LGC’s Teddington
laboratory
Each year LGC supports a charity, from nominations put forward
by LGC staff. 2007 proved to be a very successful fundraising year
for our chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society. Today
David Richardson, LGC’s Chief
Executive, presented Kevin Whately, who is an Ambassador for the
Alzheimer’s Society as well as the character 'Inspector Lewis'
(formerly Sgt Lewis in ‘Morse’), with a cheque for £15,114.31.
Kevin and representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society collected
the cheque from LGC’s head office in Teddington, south west London,
where Steve Allen, Managing
Director of LGC Forensics, took them on a guided tour of the
company’s DNA laboratories.
Commenting on his visit to LGC, Kevin Whately said:
“Dementia is more than just memory loss; it is caused by
diseases of the brain and robs people of their lives. I know from
first-hand experience how devastating it can be. I am extremely
proud to be an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and very
pleased to accept this most generous cheque from the staff at LGC.
It is a great pleasure for me to visit LGC’s DNA laboratories and
to see at close hand the work the real forensic scientists - rather
than actors - are doing to solve crimes”.
David Richardson commented: “LGC is very pleased to be able
to contribute to this worthy cause. Alzheimer’s research is vastly
under-funded: the UK spends £11 on research per person with
dementia, compared to £105 in the US. Our staff have worked hard to
raise this substantial sum - it is the highest amount we have ever
raised for any of our nominated charities”.
LGC staff raised money through various efforts at the company’s
UK sites in Teddington, Culham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Risley, Runcorn
and Tamworth. The company matched all the funds raised through team
efforts, bringing the total sum to £15,114.31, which easily
exceeded the original target of £10,000.
Kevin’s most popular role as Inspector Lewis fits well with LGC,
the international market leader in analytical, forensic and
diagnostic services and reference standards. LGC Forensics is the largest independent
provider of forensic services in the UK and the LGC group has a
wealth of experience within the DNA field.
While Inspector Lewis mainly uses conventional brain power to
solve crime, LGC uses science to develop new techniques to help the
Police fight crime. LGC Forensics has recently launched a new test
method for dealing with minute traces of DNA - DNA SenCE. DNA SenCE delivers robust,
enhanced sensitivity for dealing with trace amounts of DNA left at
a crime scene. It is recognised as a unique approach to trace DNA
analysis and reduces the complications and problems of other
tests.
Notes to Editors