Lancashire Homebuilder Donates £1,000 to charity supporting cancer patients.

A Lancashire-based cancer charity has received a donation of £1,000 from David Wilson Homes to help fund its specialist clinic supporting former radiotherapy patients.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre, Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties. 

Since its pilot in February 2020, Rosemere’s specialist Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD) clinic at Rosemere Cancer Centre has proved vital in helping some former cancer patients left with long-term side-effects after undergoing radical, intensive radiotherapy treatment to the pelvic area for cancers such as prostate cancer, bowel and bladder cancers and some gynaecological cancers.

Approximately 1,000 patients from Lancashire and South Cumbria undergo radical radiotherapy to the pelvic area annually at Rosemere Cancer Centre and studies show that up to half may be left with side-effects that are life-impacting enough to warrant them seeking help from the nurse-led clinic¹.

The donation from the five star housebuilder David Wilson Homes has been dedicated to help fund the clinic.

Rebecca Arestidou, Trust and Grants Fundraiser at Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “A priority is helping some former cancer patients receive help for some really miserable symptoms – tummy cramps and lower back pain, swollen legs, incontinence, constipation and diarrhoea to name just some. They may have been putting up with these side-effects for years, but at the PRD Clinic, they may be treated to the point of cure or at least have their symptoms properly managed to make life better.”

“We are so grateful to David Wilson Homes for its donation as we made a huge financial commitment to support the PRD Clinic for its first three years just prior to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the first national lockdown, which obviously severely impacted our ability to raise funds.”

Despite working with a 60% reduction in annual income during the pandemic, Rosemere’s specialist PRD clinic has remained open.

 For further information on the clinic and Rosemere Cancer Foundation, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk.

This donation was made through David Wilson Homes’ ‘Our Space Your Place’ community initiative, which aims to support local community projects and organisations throughout the North West. To find out more about David Wilson Homes’ Our Space Your Place scheme, and to apply, please visit www.ourspaceyourplace.co.uk. 

1.       Andreyev HJ, Davidson S, Gillespie C, et al. Practice guidance on the management of acute and chronic gastrointestinal problems arising as a result of treatment for cancer. Gut2012;61:179-92.