An Aberdeen businessman raised hundreds of thousands for North-east cancer charities, following his own experience with the disease.
When Gary Walker, Managing Director of Gary Walker Wealth Management, became aware of plans for a new urological cancer facility in Aberdeen, he decided he had to support the venture, having faced his own prostate cancer diagnosis.
The Swift Urological Response and Evaluation Unit (SURE for short) is a joint project between Friends of ANCHOR and UCAN. It will see a rapid diagnostic clinic set up within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – with the facility due to open later this year.
Having lived through his own prostate cancer diagnosis, Gary said he knows first-hand the difference the SURE Unit will make.
“As soon as I heard about the SURE Unit and how it was being driven forward by local charities, I knew it was something we wanted to put our full weight behind,” said Mr Walker.
Left to right, Sarah Jane Hogg, Gary Walker and Kenny Anderson
Towards the end of 2024, Gary had been gearing up to celebrate a milestone birthday with family and friends. Instead, he found himself recovering from surgery to treat prostate cancer.
“Nothing can prepare you for a cancer diagnosis. It is both brutal and terrifying, but the work being done by Friends of ANCHOR and UCAN is far reaching and offers invaluable support.”
Spurred on by the support he received from the charities, Gary rallied friends and colleagues to take on a fundraising effort that even reached Denmark.
He and nine determined colleagues and friends completed Copenhagen half marathon in September 2025. Collectively, the 10 runners raised more than £18,000, with every penny supporting the SURE Unit.
Once open, the SURE Unit will enable clinicians to carry out diagnostic tests for many people who have symptoms of a urological cancer, in a single visit to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
With diagnostic waiting times for urological cancers reaching up to six months, UCAN spearheaded the campaign to create the SURE Unit, and Friends of ANCHOR came on board as an equal fundraising partner in 2024.
The unique collaboration by the charities sees them aiming to raise over £3.3m to make the unit a reality.
Copenhagen half marathon
Now, thanks to Gary Walker’s fundraising, the appeal to fund the SURE Unit is £317,000 better off.
In addition to the Copenhagen Half Marathon, Gary and his team organised an evening of glitz, glamour and entertainment for ‘A Diamond Night in Vegas’ in aid of both Friends of ANCHOR and UCAN. More than £70,000 was raised for both charities, and clients of Gary Walker Wealth Management donated a further £225,000 to the causes.
Gary added: “We are so fortunate to have Friends of ANCHOR and UCAN in our region to support patients.
“The support they give is why myself and everyone at Gary Walker Wealth Management is committed to raising vital funds for the SURE Unit, and we are profoundly grateful that so many others who have contributed to both of these totals have joined us in making a significant difference.”
Sarah-Jane Hogg, Chief Executive at Friends of ANCHOR said: “The SURE Unit will enable crucial early detection and it will also be a place of support and holistic care for patients. There are a significant number of people throughout our region who have to travel from far afield, often on numerous occasions, to meet all the various appointments that are involved in obtaining a diagnosis for their urological symptoms.
“The facility, which will be created thanks to this unique partnership between UCAN and Friends of ANCHOR, will reduce travel to just one appointment for a large number of patients, instead of four or five visits – in turn reducing anxiety-inducing waiting times from as long six months to just a few weeks. We’re enormously grateful to Gary Walker for choosing to back our joint effort with UCAN to create the SURE Unit.”
Copenhagen - Martin Matthew and Gary Walker
Kenny Anderson, UCAN Chief Executive added: “Gary phoned me in Autumn 2024 as he’d known I’d been through a prostate cancer diagnosis followed by successful treatment in 2018 and wanted a chat.
“When we met and he told me he’d been similarly diagnosed he was frank about the shock he was in but was determined to be positive and to raise money for the SURE Unit initiative.
“It is quite incredible the effort he has put in and equally incredible the amount of money he has raised.
“Work has now started at ARI on the SURE Unit and it is hoped it will be operational this summer. The unique Partnership between UCAN and Friends of ANCHOR to deliver the SURE Unit is going to be transformational for urology patients across the North and North-east of Scotland, only made possible by fundraisers like Gary along with the donations from his clients and other donors.”