Bronglais Chemo Appeal reaches £500,000 target in just 10 months

You did it!
Bronglais Chemo Appeal reaches
£500,000 target in just 10 months

The Bronglais Chemo Appeal has passed its £500,000 target in just 10 months! And the team at Bronglais Hospital’s Chemotherapy Day Unit is today sending a big thank you to fundraisers and supporters in local communities.

The Bronglais Chemo Appeal launched on 30^th November 2021 with the aim of raising the remaining £500,000 needed to transform the current chemotherapy day unit at Bronglais General Hospital into a modern, fit-for-the-future facility.

Since its launch, our local communities have thoroughly embraced the Appeal, with fundraisers walking, cycling, golfing, gardening, holding a summer ball, and even staging an Elvis tribute event to raise money… and the list goes on!

Bridget Harpwood, Fundraising Officer for Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “We’ve been genuinely blown away by the support from our local communities, it has entirely exceeded our expectations.

“What’s become clear is how passionate people are about their local NHS – and how creative they are when it comes to fundraising!”

Moondance Foundation provides boost

In addition to the funds raised locally, the Appeal has received a substantial donation from the Moondance Foundation.

Diane Briere de l’Isle Engelhardt, founder and chair of the Moondance Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have supported this Appeal to transform the chemotherapy day unit at Bronglais Hospital for the local community.”

Making a difference

Bettina Vance, Chemotherapy Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “On behalf of staff at the unit and Bronglais Hospital, I’d like to say how grateful we are to everyone who has made the Appeal such a success.

“Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a huge difference to the experiences of patients, families and staff at the chemotherapy day unit. We are now looking forward to the next steps and turning our dream of providing a purpose-built unit for our patients into reality.”

Peter Skitt, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s County Director for Ceredigion and project director for the development of the new unit, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Appeal, including the Moondance Foundation, for recognising how important a new chemotherapy day unit is for Bronglais Hospital.

“The new unit will provide an improved experience for patients in a modern, fit-for-the-future facility that is tailored to their needs at different stages of cancer, offering more comfort, privacy and dignity.

“The technical design stage of the project has already begun, and we anticipate construction work starting in summer 2023. The target is for the new chemotherapy unit to go live in summer 2024.

“The total raised by the Bronglais Chemo Appeal stands today at £591,316. Every penny raised, including future donations, will go directly to the Appeal fund, with any surplus funds used to support those affected by cancer across mid Wales. With the current economic climate, we predict that construction costs will increase over the coming months. Therefore, to have exceeded the original target will be of great benefit to the project.”