ICR and its refusal to accept donations

I've not received a reply yet from the ICR about any appeals process to their refusal to allow me information about this issue under the freedom of information act.

What I can say is that, at last and to their great credit, another Cancer charity has accepted the donation. Well done Cancer Research UK, who in the eyes of the ICR must be either extremely brave or negligent in the protection of their staff. We at the England Project believe they are just doing what any reasonable charity would do when offered a big wad of cash. Once again, well done Cancer Research UK (please take note all shooters and sympathisers):

16:00 - 14 June 2005
A Fund-raiser is delighted after finding a cancer charity which will accept a £30,000 donation.

Hunting enthusiast Barry Atkinson raised a total of £60,000 through a series of bird shoots and wanted to give half to the Institute of Cancer Research.

But the charity refused to accept it, saying they did not approve of how it had been raised.

Mr Atkinson, 61, is now giving it to another charity - Cancer Research UK. He wanted it to go to a cancer charity because his father Arnold died of the disease and his dog Spider had been diagnosed with a tumour. The fund-raising drive was named Spider's Appeal.

A presentation has been arranged at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, at 10am on Thursday, June 30. The Duchess of Rutland will hand over the money on his behalf.

Mr Atkinson, an artist and recently retired teacher who lives in Norwell, near Newark, said:

"It is just a nice feeling that we seem to be emerging from this very negative and stagnant situation with the Institute. Things look far more positive with Cancer Research UK so I am assuming we are going to stick with them."

The other £30,000 raised in the shoots was given to the National Gamekeepers' Organisation's Charitable Trust.