The iconic Huer’s Hut in Newquay is set to be lit up purple to shine a light on pancreatic cancer. 

The Grade-II listed building is being illuminated on Thursday, November 16, World Pancreatic Cancer Day, as part of the annual Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer campaign.  Throughout Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month, landmarks and homes across the UK and globe will light up purple to put a spotlight on pancreatic cancer, a disease that deserves more attention.  

Nearly 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year and 50 per cent die within three months of diagnosis.  The disease receives just three per cent of UK cancer research funding, despite being the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer.  

Organised largely by individuals affected by pancreatic cancer, the campaign is not only a means to raise vital awareness but a way to remember loved ones who have sadly died and acknowledge those living with and beyond the disease.  

Treloggan resident Terry Dixon was given the devastating news in December 2022, that he had advanced pancreatic cancer which had already spread to his liver, left lung and adrenal gland, despite having few symptoms.  

Terry and his wife Zoë Dixon approached Newquay Town Council with the idea of joining the purple lights campaign by lighting up Newquay’s best loved building, the Huers Hut.  

Jon Goodman, custodian of Huers Hut, and Andy Hannan, chair of environment and facilities committee for Newquay Town Council were immediately supportive of the idea.  The town council gave approval for the project if funding could be identified.  

Zoë approached Louis Gardner, Cornwall councillor for a central and Pentire ward, who offered to provide the necessary funding from his Cornwall councillor community chest and Newquay Lions submitted a grant application.  

The Huer’s hut will be lit by Freq Audio Systems, a Cornwall-based organisation who previously lit the Huers Hut in 2019 for organ donation awareness.  

Zoë said: “I am so grateful to Andy Hannan, Louis Gardner, Jon Goodman, Newquay Town Council, Newquay Lions and Joel Hutchins from Freq Audio systems for working together to help Terry and I raise awareness of this dreadful disease by taking part in the Purple Lights campaign.  

“I hope that by lighting up Huers Hut, the most iconic building I know, in purple, we will help put a spotlight on a condition that less than 12 months ago we had no idea about and by doing this we can raise awareness about a particularly aggressive Cancer so many people still know so very little about.”  

Jon said: “When Zoe first told me that she wanted to light up the Hut for an awareness day I was more than happy to get involved as this has been the goal for a few years. The hut is the perfect iconic building to raise awareness for many charities and conditions which we hope we can do more of in the future. “