Entertainer and Brighter Futures patron Rory Bremner hosted a special event at the Great Western Hospital today as the Radiotherapy Appeal reached £500,000.
Rory and the Brighter Futures team were joined by trustees of the Dr Thomas Cranston Wilson Charitable Trust, whose generous donation of £50,000 helped tip the appeal over the half a million mark.
Rory Bremner said: “When we first launched the appeal for £2.9 million it looked a big mountain to climb. At £500,000, we’re well on the way. Now we need a huge push for the top. Let’s make this happen so no-one has to travel over two hours for vital radiotherapy.”
Sir John Sykes, Chair of the Swindon-based Dr Thomas Cranston Wilson Charitable Trust, said: “As a local Charitable Trust, we are delighted to help projects to improve the provision of medical services and equipment which benefit the quality of life of patients and their families in the Great Western Hospital area. The provision of radiotherapy treatment in Swindon is long overdue and the appeal has our maximum support with our £50,000 donation.
We hope this will spur the community on to support the appeal in every way and see this service up and running as soon as possible.”
Dr Claire Blesing, Radiotherapy Head of Service and Clinical Director of Oncology and Haematology at the Oxford Cancer Centre, said: “Our aim to reduce the travel time for patients from Swindon and the Wiltshire area who are receiving radiotherapy in our hospitals is moving a step closer.
We are extremely proud of the excellent facilities and services that we provide at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and the new satellite radiotherapy unit will provide treatment to the same high standard, but reduce the travel time and inconvenience for many of our patients.”
The £2.9 million will fund the expensive specialist equipment needed to provide radiotherapy treatment.
To donate to the Radiotherapy Appeal use this link or call us on 01793 605631.
