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Merseyside sports stars
launch The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity ₤15m New Cancer Hospital Appeal
SOME of Merseyside's biggest sports
stars joined patients and fundraisers to launch the appeal to build a new cancer
Hospital for Liverpool. Olympic gold medal hockey player Sam Quek, and former
Liverpool and Everton footballers Jamie Carragher, Graeme Sharp and Ian Snodin
were at the site of the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool City Centre
for the landmark event.
They joined 10 year old Reece Holt, who was treated at The Clatterbridge Cancer
Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Wirral for a brain tumour, to officially start
the ₤15 million appeal.
Katrina Bury, Head of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said:- "One in two
of us will develop cancer over our lifetime so this new Hospital is vitally
important for the people of Merseyside and Cheshire.
We are only going to get one chance in our lifetime to build a brand new
facility like this, which will transform cancer care for generations to come.
I would like to thank Sam, Jamie, Graeme, Ian and of course Reece for helping us
launch this incredibly important appeal. We hope everyone will get behind us and
help to build a cancer Hospital that we can all be proud of."
Reece, 11, from Morecambe in Lancashire who was treated with radiotherapy after
surgery for an aggressive grade 3 brain tumour, said:- "I can't wait to
see the Hospital once it is built, it looks like something out of the future and
I'm excited about the new technology for treating patients like me."
Mum Rachel O'Neil said:- "Until the morning of the 5th May last year
cancer didn't affect me or anyone I knew. By 7pm that evening my son was on full
life support fighting for his life. Why should you get behind and donate if it
doesn't affect you? Because it can happen in the blink of an eye and the work
they do at Clatterbridge is invaluable."
Sam said:- "I would urge everyone to get behind this appeal in any way
they can. It is really important that the great work of The Clatterbridge Cancer
Centre in Wirral extends to Liverpool. This is an innovative City and it is
incredible to see Liverpool at the centre of expert treatment and cancer
research."
Graeme said:- "The staff at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre do a fantastic
job and it is great that this new facility will be opening in Liverpool and
working towards eradicating cancer. This appeal is something everyone should get
behind. Cancer has touched my family and I think most families, so it is really
important that the City's football clubs back this appeal."
Jamie said:- "I am very pleased to be involved today. Cancer is something
that affects us all at some time in our lives whether individually in our life
or through a family member or a friend. I think to have the new centre here can
only be great for the City."
Andrew Cannell, chief executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS
Foundation Trust, said:- "Our new Hospital, due to open in Liverpool
City
centre in 2019, is part of an exciting programme of capital investment of ₤157m
to expand and improve cancer care in Merseyside and Cheshire.
We want to continue to change cancer care for the better and we can only do this
by investing in our current sites in Wirral and Aintree, and building a brand
new cancer Hospital in the heart of Liverpool.
To ensure we really can achieve our vision for patient's right across the
region, we are launching this extremely important ₤15m public appeal.
With the support of the people of Merseyside and Cheshire, this new Hospital
alongside our existing network of 10 operating sites means that patients will
benefit from the most advanced cancer treatment, expertise and research as close
to home as possible."
As well as the new Hospital, due to open in 2019, ₤8 million will be invested in
the current site in Wirral, as part of the ₤157 million investment in
transforming cancer care. The Radiotherapy Centre, at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Aintree, and chemotherapy clinics in the region's district Hospitals will also
continue to treat patients.
People are being invited to join in the drive by going green, the corporate
colour of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and its charity.
Schools, colleges and businesses have been holding green days, people have been
having green bake sales and a number of landmark buildings in Merseyside,
Cheshire and the Isle of Man have been lighting up in green in support of the
appeal.
Social media is awash with the hashtag #letsgogreen and people are being
encouraged to post a selfie dressed in green and make a donation to the fund.
People who want to help can also text:-
'Lets194' to:- 70070 to make a donation of ₤4.
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