A woman from Rochdale who has raised more than £25,000 for Christie's in memory of her mother who died from ovarian cancer visited the Christie Hospital recently to see the latest piece of equipment she has funded in action.
Michelle Evans' latest donation of £5,000 was presented to ovarian cancer specialist at the Christie, Professor Gordon Jayson.
The donation has been used to purchase a high-tech piece of equipment which helps protect staff, particularly those who are based in laboratories, from the harmful effects of chemicals used during research. The dry powder weighing cabinet is a sealed cabinet which allows staff to weigh out precise amounts without coming into contact with substances which could harm. The equipment also contains specialist filters so chemical vapours aren’t released into the atmosphere around.
Michelle's mother Joan Evans died from ovarian cancer in 1995, aged just 48. Since her death, family and friends have worked to raise money in her memory and so far have purchased equipment worth almost £25,000 for cancer research equipment at the Christie Hospital.
Fundraising events have included charity golf days, cabaret nights, car boot sales, coffee mornings and Michelle has even managed to rope friends into joining her sessions at her gym – Gymophobics.
Michelle says: "Fundraising for research at the Christie is so important, because it is only with help and support from the public that clinicians will be able to continue their essential work. Each time our fund has bought a new piece of equipment, my dad and I have been very kindly invited to see how it is used and what a difference it makes and this of course spurs us on to continue thinking of new ways to raise cash."
Professor Jayson said: "We are very grateful to the Evans family for their continuing support. Their generous donation has enabled us to buy this new piece of equipment. We already have on of these in the lab, but it is in constant use, and it is such a big hospital, having two will make things much quicker and easier for us.”
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PHOTOS ATTACHED: Dr Gordon Jayson with Michelle Evans and her father David.
ABOUT THE CHRISTIE HOSPITAL:
The Christie Hospital is one of the largest single-site cancer treatment centres in Europe, and an international leader in cancer research and development.
The hospital is based in Manchester, but because of its specialist nature, patients travel to the Christie from all over the North West and beyond. Around 40,000 patients are treated each year and medical staff share their expertise with colleagues in hospitals across the region.
In addition to NHS funding, the Christie receives a significant amount of money every year through its charity. The money raised is used both to fund cancer research and to contribute to the provision of specialist medical equipment and extras that give the hospital its special comforting and therapeutic atmosphere for patients undergoing treatment for all types of cancer.
For more information, please contact:
Louise Tansey
Communications Officer
Direct line: 0161 446 3613
Appeals Office, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX
Christie's raises money for the Christie Hospital, one of Europe's largest cancer treatment centres, treating more than 40,000 patients every year from Greater Manchester, Cheshire and beyond. Our vision is a future without cancer and we aim to provide ever more effective treatments for our patients so their chances of surviving cancer are greatly increased. For more information on supporting our cause, visit www.christies.org
Registered Charity No. 1049751
