The second 'Call Everyone Dave Day' was held on Sunday, to raise awareness and funds in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK, with the latest figure for donations being in excess of £11,000 as of 10th February. That figure was more than twice the amount raised in 2014. Besides donating to the appeal, merchandise items were also available, such as mugs, badges and tee shirts, bearing the appeal's distinctive message. Several famous Celebrities put their weight behind the event, including David Jason (aka 'Del Boy' Trotter), the pop star 'Suggs', Tim Lovejoy and Julie Hesmondhalgh (aka 'Hayley' from Coronation Street).
The inspiration for the charity day was the character famously portrayed by Roger Lloyd-Pack in the comedy series Only Fools and Horses. Lloyd-Pack tragically died of pancreatic cancer himself in January 2014 and, following on from his death, Tom Kenning (a supporter of the charity) set up the tribute. Besides starring in Only Fools and Horses, Lloyd-Pack also starred in another famous comedy series, the Vicar of Dibley, with Dawn French.
Jehane Markham, Roger Lloyd Pack's widow, also provided her own words of support for the event on the Facebook pages, calling it an "original and amusing way to raise awareness and money" (for the charity).
The first such event was held on 8th February last year, a date that would have marked Lloyd-Pack's 70th birthday, had he still been alive to see it.
It proved to be a big success in terms of raising the profile and also in attaining some much needed finance. Over 45,000 people signed on to the Facebook page that had been set up for the 2014 event and much Twitter traffic was created using the #daveday.
Pancreatic Cancer UK utilises any funding it receives from the public for support, information, campaigning and research, for an illness that has caused severe devastation to thousands of families both within the UK and across the world.
