in 2005 "manchester versus cancer" was founded by andy rourke (bass player from the smiths), nova rehman his ex-manager, tom smetham a former itv granada television producer and stephen chapman a former itv news journalist. it is now known as versus cancer. it was set up as a response by andy and nova to nova's sister nina and his father sheik abdur both being diagnosed with bowel cancer and the first two concerts were initially funded by nova. sadly they both succumbed to the disease.