IT IS a fundraising milestone that has brought a new day unit for blood cancer patients a step closer.
Southampton Hospital Charity’s Red and White Appeal has now broken through the £500,000 milestone towards its £2.2m target.
It is an appeal that will help the community and one that the community has rallied to support with a wealth of dress down days and sponsored treks, as well as cake sales, dinner dances and a ladies lunch all contributing to the current total of £521,599.
Both big and small donations, as well as support from many Hampshire businesses, have all helped the Daily Echo-backed fundraising drive.
But delighted organisers say there is still a long way to the appeal target to pay for a new regional day case unit at Southampton General Hospital.
Appeal chairman Richard Brazier said: “On behalf of the Red & White Appeal committee I would like to thank all of our supporters who have helped us to reach this key milestone.
“It is vital that we now push forward and do all that we can to reach our £2.2m target, and ensure that patients with lifethreatening blood cancers are receiving the best possible care.”
Patients with leukaemia, myeloma, non Hodgkin lymphoma and other blood conditions will use the new complex for chemotherapy, blood transfusions, stem cell collections and other day case treatments.
The new dedicated day case unit will be built alongside the hospital’s newly extended 28- bed C6 leukaemia ward funded by £5m from Department of Health.
Veryan Grant, director of Southampton Hospital Charity said she was pleased with the progress of the appeal (named after the importance of red and white blood cells for haematology patients) since its launch at the Daily Echo offices in November 2008.
“We are delighted that Southampton Hospital Charity’s major fundraising appeal has reached £500,000.
“But we still need the support of the community and local businesses to reach our goal and ensure that we can create the transplant treatment centre of choice for patients with leukaemia and other blood disorders from across the region.”
How you can help
■ Planned fundraising events for the Red and White Appeal include a group skydive day at Salisbury Airfield on July 31, a dinner dance at Bryanston School in Dorset on August 14, and Southampton Hospital Charity’s 5km Fun Run on September 18.
■ For more information about any of these events, or to make a donation to the Red & White Appeal, call Southampton Hospital Charity on 023 8079 8881 or visit redandwhiteappeal.org.
■ Alternatively you can send a cheque made payable to The Red and White Appeal to Southampton Hospital Charity, FREEPOST RRUA-CSKX-JUBZ, Mailpoint 135, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD. (You do not need to use a stamp but it will save the charity money if you do).
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