Salutions Publications | Health
Charity supports world-class Christie Ambition burns bright at Manchester's Christie hospital, with doctors and fundraisers determined it will soon be amongst the top five cancer centres in the world.
Dr Jon Bell
Funding LiFe-chAnging ProJecTS The Christie Charity provides enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. Gifts from the public and businesses make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families. The charity's Head of Fundraising, Louise Stimson said: "Over 1,015 community events and 355 corporate fundraisers were held on our behalf, 190 people left us a gift in their will, and more than 7,500 people
tackled a sporting challenge. All of these wonderful supporters have helped to fund life-changing and potentially life-saving projects." One of the major projects the charity is currently involved in is the development of a new £4.8m Integrated Procedures Unit; bringing together a range of different services – interventional radiology, day case procedures, plastic surgery, pain control and an endoscopy clinic – under one roof and based above the main entrance on Oak Road. Thousands of patients will all receive treatment in one place, creating a seamless treatment experience. drAgon'S den A key element of the hospital’s ambitious development will be the provision of hi-tech advanced 3D interventional imaging equipment – the first of its type in Europe – for the application of precision-targeted surgery and therapies to reduce side effects of treatments. It was the subject of a successful bid to the charitable funding committee for £600,000. "The process makes Dragons’ Den look simple and straightforward," jokes Dr Bell. "We have to go through multiple committees
and explain the benefits of every project to justify spending every penny. "If you have heard of keyhole surgery, then this equipment enables pinhole surgery using very thin wires and catheters to access places in the body using state-of-the-art images as a guide. We can be incredibly accurate in the application of treatments." The JeweL in The crown What Louise Stimson describes as "the jewel in the crown" of The Christie Charity's fundraising activities is the annual ball, which will take place at the luxuriously-refurbished Palace Hotel in Manchester on 18th March 2017. One of the most glamorous events in the city's social calendar will see 300 guests and VIPs enjoy a fine dining gala dinner, hosted by the BBC One's Match of the Day 2 and 5 live Sport presenter Mark Chapman. "It's a hugely popular way for people and businesses to support projects like Dr Bell's interventional radiology procedures,” explains Louise. “It's always a sell-out and guests are guaranteed a truly spectacular evening. But, most importantly, it's a very tangible way to help cancer patients here in the North West."
For details of the fantastic packages available for The christie charity ball, please contact 0161 918 7398 or email specialevents@christies.org December/January 2016/17 | salutions.co.uk
By Ray King
C C
urrently, the much-loved centre of excellence in Didsbury ranks as one of the top ten most technologically-advanced cancer centres in the world – but, major developments are currently under way at The Christie, designed to enhance the experience of patients through the deployment of new state-of-the-art technology. Crucial to the hospital's ability to "keep level pegging with the Americans", as Consultant Interventional Radiologist Dr Jon Bell puts it, is the tireless work of The Christie Charity and its 43,500 supporters, who raised an incredible £15.9m last year.
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