The transformation of Rosemere Cancer Centre’s in-patient Ribblesdale Ward has received a £25,000 boost from the Eric Wright Charitable Trust.
Chair of its trustees Mike Collier (far right), along with Alison Wright, who is also a trustee and the wife of Eric Wright, founder of the Walton Summit-based property and construction company the Eric Wright Group, presented the donation to Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s Chief Officer Sue Thompson (far left) and chair of the charity’s 20 Years Anniversary Appeal Committee Frank Stoner.
A plan to refurbish the Ribblesdale Ward was one of a trio projects clinical staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ Rosemere Cancer Centre believed could best improve patients’ lives and so became part of Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s £1.5 million 20 Years Anniversary Appeal, which launched in March 2017 to celebrate the Cancer Centre’s 20th birthday.
The appeal reached its target earlier this year having bought the centre the most advanced specification robotic surgical system on the market and having funded an oncology clinical research co-ordinator to extend the number of potentially life-saving clinical trials the centre is able to offer patients.
From the money raised, £158,000 was set aside for the work on Ribblesdale Ward but over the course of the appeal, an opportunity arose to close the 28-bed ward temporarily next year with its patients moved to another ward for their care.
With no patients, a more radical re-modelling can be undertaken that will transform the look and feel of the ward for patients and their families. However, it comes with an increased price tag of an additional £842,000.
Sue Thompson said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Eric Wright Charitable Trust for this donation. We believe that when completed, Rosemere Cancer Centre will have in the Ribblesdale Ward a cancer ward of the future. A hospital ward will always be just that but we believe that the plans drawn up for the Ribblesdale Ward will create the best environment possible for patients and their families, a sort of home from home in as far as that can be achieved.”
Eric Wright Group first began supporting Rosemere Cancer Foundation five years ago. It has sponsored the charity’s annual Blackburn Cathedral concert and for the last two years, its Walk in the Dark and Cross Bay walks, which are two of Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s best supported and therefore financially most important fundraising events.
Eric Wright Charitable Trustee, Alison Wright, said: “We are thrilled to offer this cheque to such a deserving charity, which supports the needs of many local families who depend on the organisation for their care and excellent support networks.
“Without these facilities, families would face an uncertain future so it is essential that Rosemere can provide the necessary equipment and facilities to maintain a high-quality standard of care and offer ongoing support to those who need it.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria by funding vital equipment, research, training and other cancer services that are beyond limited NHS resources.
For further information on Rosemere Cancer Foundation and its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk