Westbury fundraiser Gary Cook has raised over £100,000 for local cancer charities from this year’s Rodney Cook Memorial (RCM) Rally, held from Friday 30th August to Sunday 1st September.
The annual rally, affectionately dubbed the ‘Glastonbury festival of metal detecting,’ has gained international attention and drew over 1,500 metal detector enthusiasts to South Wraxall from across the globe. They unearthed a range of exciting historical treasures, including Roman coins, medieval buckles, and other ancient artefacts.
Gary established the rally in 2018 in memory of his father who died from cancer, to raise money for cancer services at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. With the funds raised this year, the donations should pass the £400,000 mark.
“We do this to help people and families affected by cancer,” said Gary, who was the White Horse News Person of the Year last year. “The event in memory of my dad has turned something terrible into something positive.”
The money raised from the rallies has had a tangible impact on local healthcare, contributing to the purchase of the first surgical robot at the RUH and helping fund the newly opened Dyson Cancer Centre, where a consultation room has been named in honour of Rodney Cook.
Gary and his team of volunteers, who give their time freely, have been recognised for their tremendous efforts by being nominated for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, making it to the final four in the southern region. “If we win that we will have to go to London for the final live on ITV,” revealed Gary. “ITV West were filming us throughout the weekend.
“We have raised well over £100,000 this year with the final figure being announced next month.
“This year we had detectorists come from all over the world and we had manufacturers coming from far and wide to support us including the USA, Australia, Turkey and France.
“The rally has become world-renowned and it has been called ‘the Glastonbury festival of metal detecting’ because tickets sell so quickly every year!”
Appeal for landowners
If any landowners or farmers would be interested in hosting the RCM rally, whether they have an interest in history or want to help raise money for charity, you can get in contact with Gary via the website – www.rodneycookmemorial.co.uk
