Ambitious fundraising campaign launched for cancer specialist unit

The campaign, already backed by Westfield Health and Yorkshire Cancer Research, is aimed at refurbishing the hospital’s first floor to create a new Cancer Research and Treatment Suite, offering access to the most up-to-date treatments and therapies, initially as part of a research programme, and subsequently as NHS treatment.

The purpose-built suite will support patients from across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, North Derbyshire and parts of North Lincolnshire receiving chemotherapy and other treatments

Former patient Petrina Drury is among those backing the bid – 10 years after she was given the news she had cancer.

The English teacher, now 38, had months of treatment at Weston Park Hospital and took part in a pioneering clinical trial using a new form of chemotherapy to treat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancerous growth of lymph system cells affecting young adults.

The treatment had an 80 per cent chance of success. She and her husband Kevin, 43, were also facing the prospect that, as a side-effect of chemotherapy, they might not be able to have children.

But her treatment was a success and they now have two children, Ianna, seven and Kavan, three.

Petrina, from Tinker Lane, Crookes, said: “Ten years is such a milestone in my recovery. It’s something that not everyone is lucky enough to reach, so I feel very appreciative of the care I’ve received.”

Professor Rob Coleman, Yorkshire Cancer Research Professor of Medical Oncology, at Weston Park Hospital, said: “We will be able to offer more trials and more novel treatments to our patients. It will keep Weston Park Hospital as a world leader and give patients the opportunity to access the latest treatment at the earliest opportunity.”

Westfield Health is making an initial donation of £100,000 and has pledged to match every cash gift pound for pound, up to a total of £250,000. Yorkshire Cancer Research is donating £300,000.