Charity bosses are celebrating an early Christmas present after it was revealed that the Chronicle’s Lingen Davies Cancer Centre Appeal has reached its £3.2million target.
The announcement was made by appeal chairman Dr Barbara Marsh at the charity’s annual Christmas presentation evening on Friday.
Work on the new building, which will provide new facilities for cancer patients from Shropshire and Mid Wales at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, is due to get underway next year with completion expected in 2012.
The new centre will provide improved treatment and staff space for the chemotherapy day centre, haematology department and the head and neck outpatient clinics.
Dr Marsh thanked everyone at the presentation evening for all their hard work, and for the wonderful support received from local people.
Chairman of the project board for the new centre, Julia Clarke, presented the concept plans of the building to supporters.
The new centre was designed following consultation with patients and staff and will incorporate a small courtyard at the heart of the new building to bring natural light into all areas of the facility.
There will also be solar panels on the roof and other environmental measures have been taken to reduce the energy consumption of the site and therefore running costs.
Eryl Williams, Appeal fundraising manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have finally reached our target. £3.2 million is a phenomenal amount to raise, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has helped in any way in raising this tremendous amount.
“On behalf of local cancer patients who will benefit from this new building I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’.
“The charity would also like to thank the Shrewsbury Chronicle and its readers for all their support,” she added.
The Lingen Davies charity, which was originally set up in 1979 by Bernard Lingen, then Mayor of Shrewsbury, and Frank Davies to fund the radiotherapy department at the hospital, will continue to raise further funds to kit-out the new centre.
Upcoming events include a Christmas Grotto being held at Vron Gate, Westbury, this Saturday from 5.30pm, organised by Dot and Dave Garrett, carols in The Square in Church Stretton on Christmas Eve and the popular annual snowdrop walk at Winsley Hall, Westbury, on Saturday and Sunday, February 19-20.
To help with fundraising contact the appeal office on 01743 492396.
By Anna Williams