Christie’s double tonic

YOU did it . . . (from the left) lead radiographer Julie Davies with staff Kirstie Oliver, Gareth Hill, Helen Squibbs, Tony Sheppard, Kathryn Hornby, Dr Agata Rembielak, Diane Hilton and Louse Clarke with how the Chronicle reported the first £100,000 raised

THE Christie’s at Oldham appeal — backed by the Chronicle — has doubled its target and raised an incredible £200,000 in only 14 months.

Julie Davies, who heads the radiography service at the unit, gave Oldhamers a big pat on the back for their support.

She said: “The opening of the centre was a historic moment for the Christie and for Oldham and I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved.”

Launched in March, last year, the joint campaign, linking the Christie and the Chronicle, galvanised Oldhamers into a fund-raising frenzy to help bring lifesaving cancer treatment to the borough.

Money flooded in towards the £17 million radiotherapy centre, which is now up and running on the Royal Oldham Hospital site.

The original 12-month target to raise £100,000 was met five months ahead of schedule.

Many Oldhamers backed the cause by telling personal stories of their battle against cancer and the difficult daily trudge to the Christie Hospital in Withington for radiotherapy treatment. Their frank support helped bring to Oldham a state-of-the-art radiotherapy centre which houses two £1.3 million linear accelerators, used to give radiotherapy treatment to 70 patients every day. The unit has now been open for two months and is manned by Christie staff.

Saddleworth’s Mrs Davies heads a team who will initially care for people with the most common cancers, such as breast, prostate and lung.

“It’s great to know how much of a difference this centre will make to local people.”

Jacky Plant, community fund-raising officer for the Christie charity, is heavily involved with Oldham’s fund-raisers and attends many events to receive the proceeds.

She said: “Thank-you so much to everyone who has donated money to this appeal.

“To have doubled our target is absolutely amazing and this is a testament to the tremendous generosity and dedication of fund-raisers in this area — and readers of the Oldham Chronicle.

“We are so grateful to the Oldham Chronicle for its fantastic and continued support, which has no doubt inspired many people across this area to raise money for the Christie’s new radiotherapy centre in Oldham.”

Now the unit is up and running, fundraising will continue to provide the extras which can help remove anxieties for those undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

The intention is to match those provided at the Christie Hospital in Withington, and include such things as complementary well-being therapies such as hypnotherapy, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture and relaxation techniques.

They could also include stop-smoking treatments, counselling and psychiatric support, benefits advice and a translation machine which provides information in several languages.