Chairman of Board of Trustees

MALCOLM J BREARLEY MA VetMB MSc(Clin Onc) FRCVS DipECVIM-CA(Oncology)
Consultant Veterinary Oncologist

I qualified from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School in 1981 and have been treating dogs and cats with cancer for nearly 20 years. I became the first RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Oncology in 1994 and a European Specialist in Small Animal Oncology in 2005. I am a member of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the British Association of Cancer Research, the European Society of Veterinary Oncology, the Veterinary Cancer Society (USA) and the British Veterinary Oncology Study Group.

I have had numerous animal family members include two German shepherd dogs, a couple of wonderful mongrels and several cats not to mention Hebridean sheep and some chickens! As a pet owner myself I know how much they mean to us. Over the years I have met many owners and I hope that, as well as treating their dog or cat, I have helped them understand a little more about cancer. In England and Wales there are approximately 7 million dogs. One out of every 4 will develop a tumour in its lifetime and at a conservative estimate 50,000 dogs will die of cancer every year! These shocking figures drove me to think of how I can reach more owners and their pets than I can possible treat. The idea of setting up a cancer charity for animals came to me as a way to fund more research and better treatment facilities for the benefit of our animals. Between us we can make a difference.

Board members

ANNETTE HOWARD

Annette has always been an animal lover and owns both horses and dogs. She has always loved Irish Setters and currently has her 5th one.

In 2000 Oscar, her very big and lovable ‘boy’, suddenly couldn’t swallow. Her vet knew that there was a cancer specialist in Newmarket who could help so she rushed him down and met Malcolm Brearley who immediately operated on him. At this point it was touch and go as to whether he would survive. Fortunately he made a good recovery. As a result she offered to help Malcolm if he ever needed it. This came sooner than expected! Malcolm had decided to found the Animal Cancer Trust and asked Annette to become one of the Trustees.
Her hobbies are riding, skiing, flower arranging, tennis and entertaining.
Annette was brought up overseas and travelled extensively. She still enjoys seeing new countries and meeting new people.

She has ridden over the Andes taking 14 days on 4 different horses. Annette has also ridden from Edinburgh to London which took 27 days on 22 different horses on behalf of the Macmillan Nurses.

 

DR VICKI J ADAMS BSc, DVM, MSc, PhD, MRCVS

Vicki graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon in 1990 and went on to complete a one-year small animal internship at the University of Minnesota. After six years in general and emergency small animal practice, Vicki returned to the University of Saskatchewan to do research. Having obtained an MSc in the epidemiology of rabies in wildlife, Vicki completed a PhD in small animal epidemiology investigating owner compliance with veterinary recommendations and prescribed medications. Vicki started working at the Animal Health Trust in 2003 and she is currently Head of the Small Animal Epidemiology Unit. Vicki undertakes studies of feline disease in collaboration with the Feline Advisory Bureau (who part-fund her position), studies of canine diseases in collaboration with the Kennel Club and clinical studies in collaboration with the small animal clinicians at the AHT.

 

DR JEFF SAMPSON BSc DPhil

Jeff Sampson has been associated with dogs for the last 30 years; his first ‘introduction’ being the result of marrying a girl who helped her mother breed and show dogs, the breed being the Schipperke or Belgian Barge Dog. Of course, being part of the dog scene, Jeff came to realise the potential problems that inherited diseases can pose to pure bred dog populations, and realised that the skills that he had acquired as a research scientist could have an impact on developing new methods to identify the genetic mutations that result in these canine inherited conditions. So, in the late 80s, whilst working in the Department of Biochemistry at Leicester University, he decided to switch his group’s major research emphasis to develop a better understanding of the genetics of inherited canine disease. Shortly after, he entered a major collaboration with scientists at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket and, together with extremely generous support from the Guide Dogs for the Blind, developed the foundations of what was to become the European Dog Map Consortium. The early work during this period put down the foundations for a better molecular understanding of the canine genome. Jeff left Leicester University in 1998 to take up a post as Genetics coordinator with the Kennel Club in London. This position has led Jeff to collaborate with a large number of different breed clubs and research facilities, both in the UK and abroad, to develop new DNA tests that breeders can use to pre-screen their breeding stock and begin to reduce the inherited problems through the selection of appropriate breeding stock.

KARINA LE MARE  -  HELMLAKE

Karina Le Mare was born in Norway.  Her parents bred Great Danes, Setters, Pointers and Wire Fox Terriers, and she grew up surrounded by animals.  Karina attended the Rudolf Steiner School which instilled in her a reverence for life and animals.

She holds a BA Degree in Modern Languages and speaks Norwegian, French, German, Spanish, Italian and English.

Karina is the Proprietor of Wey Farm Boarding & Breeding Kennels & Cattery and Wey Farm Quarantine.  She lives in 50 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside.  She is Honorary Secretary of the Canine Supporters Charity.  Despite her busy life, Karina published in 1992 her book "Great Danes - an Owners Companion" and has written many articles on canine subjects.

Karina has judged in Australia, USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa and all countries in Europe.  She has judged four World Shows, the last being in Milan 2000.  In her country of residence, Karina awards CC's in Great Danes, Dobermanns and Rottweilers and judges all breeds at Open Show level.

In the Working Group, 19 UK Champion Great Danes carry the Helmlake prefix, winning in total 140 CC's.  In the last six years, Karina has made up four Champion Dobermanns, winning in total 28 CC's and 18 Res CC's.  In the remaining groups, Karina has made up 2 CH Chihuahuas winning 14 CC's and 5 Res CC's;  1 CH Standard Poodle, winning 3 CC's;  and CC's in Cocker Spaniels and Miniature Pinschers.  Our latest Show Champion is a Hungarian Vizsla imported from Hungary with 4 CC's so far.

The prefix, Helmlake, is know worldwide.  There are many international Champions carrying the name Helmlake.

You can contact us at
Animal Cancer Trust
5 Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farm Road, Peterborough, Cambs PE1 5TX
08701 644225
www.animalcancertrust.org.uk
info@animalcancertrust.org.uk

Registered charity no. 1094779 Animal Cancer Trust is a Registered company limited by guarantee in England & Wales no. 04434009. The registered address of the company is Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 9AA. Please use address above for correspondence.