Bid to raise £500,000 for teenage cancer unit at Western

Published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 09:48

A HUGE fundraising campaign will swing into action next month to raise £500,000 for another new teenage cancer unit in Edinburgh.

A series of events will take place over the coming year, with the Teenage Cancer Trust hoping to generate sufficient funds to see the facility open at the Western General sometime next year.

The campaign will be launched just as the new teenage cancer unit at the current Sick Kids Hospital, expected to be completed within a couple of months, opens its doors.

More than 250,000 for that was raised with the help of an Evening News Christmas Campaign in 2007, and although it will only be an interim facility until the Sciennes hospital moves out to Little France, the charity is excited about the difference it will make to youngsters.

Lynne McNicoll, the Edinburgh-based fundraiser for the TCT, said the campaign was picking up speed, and that by 2012 there would be two fully functioning teenage cancer units in the city.

She said: "Now that everything has been put in place for the interim unit at the Sick Kids, we can focus our efforts in raising the money for the Western.

"Once that's in place, we'll have some time to concentrate on another unit to go in as part of the (new] Sick Kids hospital.

"The efforts are really stepping up. I've been to three funerals this year of teenagers who have died of cancer, and it really focuses your mind. We are aiming towards the Western facility being opened next year at some stage, with the other at the new Sick Kids when it opens in 2012."

Among the more eye-catching events will be the campaign to find 2009 teenagers from the east of Scotland to come on board and raise 50 each. That in itself would make significant inroads into the 500,000 sum, while a classical concert at the Usher Hall is also being planned for Remembrance Sunday.

The two facilities would cater for different age groups, with the Sick Kids one for the younger teenagers, and the Western for those approaching adulthood.

Young patients will be able to choose whether to be treated for their cancer at the Western or Little France, depending on which unit they prefer.

It would be another boost for paediatric services at the new 100 million plus hospital at Little France, which already include plans for a free family hotel for patients, and schooling facilities within the hospital.