Local firms to raise £20,000 to help towards new Blood Sampling Machine for children with cancer in Gloucestershire

The announcement comes during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, an international campaign now in its 34th year, to generate awareness and support for children with cancer.   

5th September 2024, Cheltenham: Four Cheltenham firms have joined forces to raise £20,000 to help towards the Emily’s Gift Appeal and two new Blood Sampling Machines for children with cancer in Gloucestershire.  

Emily’s Gift is an Appeal to support children with cancer in Gloucestershire. Last year the Appeal raised over £500,000 to fund a psychologist for children having cancer treatment on the Emily Kent Unit, and their families, for ten years. 

Now, this latest Appeal is hoping to raise enough money over the next 12 months to buy two Blood Sampling Machines, worth £20,000 each, to stay on the Emily Kent Unit at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The machines test children’s blood in 45 seconds rather than families having to wait hours for the results, which can cause the child anxiety and problems for parents who may also be waiting with other children.  

 Money to help towards the machines will be raised by hosting a Grand Coronation Ball on 1st February 2025, organised by local firms, Frank Smith & Co Solicitors, JMP Insurance, HeadOn Public Relations and Friends of Imperial Square Heritage and Conservation (FISHAC), and held at the Queens Hotel Cheltenham which has donated its staff and Regency Suite ballroom for the evening.  

 Now in its second year, the ball will be building on this year’s successful event, where earlier this year £14,000 was raised for Linc, a local blood cancer charity, and for FISHAC for the restoration of the historic railings and the ornamental entrance to Imperial Square Gardens. Next year’s ball is expected to be even more spectacular, with a proportion of the funds also going to FISHAC to continue its reconstruction work, as well as the Emily’s Gift Appeal.  

  Julie Kent MBE, Co-founder of Emily’s Gift said: “The Grand Coronation Ball is a great example of what local communities can do when they work together and we’re so grateful that we’re able to be a part of that.  

  “Each ticket purchased not only goes towards a wonderful evening but will also help fund a critical piece of equipment that will benefit the lives of local children with cancer, and their families. Having Blood Sampling Machines on the Emily Kent Unit means blood test results are ready in seconds rather than hours helping relieve the anxiety and stress that this process can cause families. There is currently a machine at Bristol Children’s Hospital and one parent said that it was a game changer for their whole family.”