Thanks a million! Appeal for Leeds cancer centre hits £10m goal

And readers are being thanked for playing an integral part as they helped collect the first £3m for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal.

The fundraising means that the Leeds Cancer Centre at St James’s Hospital provides patients with cutting-edge treatment in a calming and relaxing environment.

It has also helped the city become a leading light in the global cancer research field.

Edward Ziff, chairman of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ Charitable Foundation, said: “Today marks a great achievement – by the people of Yorkshire, for the people of Yorkshire.

“We all know someone whose life has been touched by the ground-breaking work of this centre and the expertise of its staff.

“I am immensely proud of the role that this appeal has played, and will continue to play, in developing these facilities into a world-class centre of excellence in cancer care.”

The Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal was launched in June 2007 to support specialist cancer services based at the Bexley Wing at St James’s, which was then being built.

The aim was to fund extra medical equipment, research, arts projects and home comforts for patients.

The YEP backed £3m of the fundraising, which was to pay for two of the most advanced radiotherapy machines available, and huge support from readers meant that amount was reached in just over a year.

Hazel Rodger, head of radiotherapy at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the equipment provided by the whole appeal was of huge benefit to patients: “It’s meant that the patients of Leeds have got access to the most high technology available to treat their cancer.

Appeal director Sheila O’Shea added they were “absolutely delighted” to raise £10m.

“We feel quite privileged to have come so far and of course it’s due to our fundraisers, to our donors, our volunteers, to everybody who’s ever put 10p in a box, to those who have put £1m towards this appeal. It’s a tremendous achievement and it’s to them that we owe our gratitude.”

Thanks a million! Appeal for Leeds cancer centre hits £10m goal

The Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal was launched in June 2007 to raise money for the specialist cancer wing which was at that time being built at St James’s Hospital to replace the former Cookridge Hospital.

The Yorkshire Evening Post took on raising £3m of the target to pay for two additional hi-tech radiotherapy machines.

The Bexley Wing, home of the Leeds Cancer Centre, opened at the start of 2008.

It houses 12 radiotherapy machines in total which treat tumours with such accuracy that treatment times and side effects are reduced.