A LOCAL man is appealing for help collecting yew clippings to help fight cancer and raise money for Broughton Gifford Primary School.
Tom Vincent is looking for donations of yew clippings which will then be collected by a UK company called Limehurst who use the yew to make cancer treatment drugs including those used in chemotherapy. The clippings are also used as the raw material by pharmaceutical companies for the production of the drugs, used primarily to treat breast and ovarian cancers.
The yew clippings are bought by Limehurst who will be visiting Broughton Gifford for collection and will pay by the kilo. The money raised by Tom will then be given to Broughton Gifford Primary School.
Tom said, “It is a great way to help in the fight against cancer but also raise money for a great village school. So far I have around seven or eight people in Broughton Gifford and Melksham who have agreed to donate yew clippings so we can raise as much as possible.
“But, I would invite as many people as possible who have a yew tree in their garden to cut the clippings and donate it. Limehurst are from Sussex and there is only a few companies of their kind in the UK, but they are coming to Broughton Gifford to collect the yew at midday on Friday 8th August. It is important that anyone planning on helping cuts the clippings as late as possible, as it can affect the quality if it is cut too early. Our harvest is planned for Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th and the morning of Friday 8th August.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by leaving the clippings at the front of Tom’s home in Broughton Gifford with a note saying where it has come from. This is because the company collecting it require this information.
For details call Tom on 07956 661495.
