Charity donations to The Christie down a quarter due to COVID-19

Patients and fundraisers at The Christie are urging people to support key projects and services funded by The Christie charity.

Income for The Christie charity is down by a quarter compared with a normal year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Christie charity is raising money for vital projects including a new Christie centre at Macclesfield which will transform cancer care in Cheshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire and parts of North Staffordshire, providing care closer to home for more than 1,500 existing Christie patients a year and with around 40,000 appointments a year.

Another incredibly important project being supported by The Christie charity is the construction of a world-class cancer research facility to replace the Paterson building which suffered devastating fire damage in April 2017. This will allow scientists, researchers and consultants to all work together in one place, developing and shaping the latest personalised and innovative cancer treatments.

David Hutson, 62, from Warrington was diagnosed with three separate cancers in three years - throat cancer in 2016, skin cancer in 2017 and prostate cancer in September 2018.

He became the first patient to be treated at The Christie using a revolutionary radiotherapy machine – the MR-linac. This £5.3m machine was funded entirely by The Christie charity and David is urging potential supporters to support The Christie charity in 2021. He said: “Almost everyone has had a terrible year due to coronavirus but cancer patients have been some of the hardest hit over the last 12 months.

“The Christie charity helps fund revolutionary lifesaving equipment and treatments like the MR-linac. It’s projects like this that make such a difference to patients like me. That’s why it is so important for people to support The Christie charity in 2021. I can’t thank The Christie enough for everything it has done for me.”

Head of fundraising at The Christie charity, Louise Stimson said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for us all. We know that many of our supporters and fundraisers have been struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cancer patients.

“At The Christie charity, we are doing everything we can to continue to support cancer patients and their loved ones.

“We work hand in hand with the hospital to support patients during treatment so they can receive the very best care, benefit from the latest research, the most advanced equipment and support services that make life a little easier.

“As a charity, we have been hit hard. The loss of income directly impacts the support we can offer the hospital. We have never needed our supporters more - each and every penny raised makes a difference.”

One of the ways the public can support The Christie charity is by taking part in the newly launched ‘Christie Challenge’ for 2021. This challenge encourages people to complete six fundraising activities for The Christie over 12 months, no matter how big or small. The challenge can be completed with friends, family, work colleagues or solo. For each activity the fundraiser completes, they will earn a part of a jigsaw medal, which when completed makes up a rainbow Christie embrace (see image). Fundraisers can sign up for The Christie Challenge at www.christies.org/challenge.

Louise Stimson continued: “We know we have to do things differently in 2021 and we must all stay safe. The activities and challenges we promote are all COVID-19 friendly.

“There’s never been a more important time to support our charity and to make a difference to the lives of those affected by cancer when they need us the most. Cancer doesn’t stop for a pandemic.”

Anyone who would simply like to make a donation, can call 0161 446 3988 or visit the website at www.christies.org/donate.”

The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust was the first specialist trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ twice (in 2016 and 2018) by the health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It referred to The Christie as ‘a leader in cancer care’ and ‘a pioneer in developing innovative solutions to cancer care.’ The CQC praised the Trust’s staff which it said ‘go the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families’ and that they were ‘exceptionally kind and caring.’ In 2017, the CQC rated The Christie as the best specialist trust in the country, and one of the top three trusts overall in England.

The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust was the first specialist trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ twice (in 2016 and 2018) by the health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It referred to The Christie as ‘a leader in cancer care’ and ‘a pioneer in developing innovative solutions to cancer care.’ The CQC praised the Trust’s staff which it said ‘go the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families’ and that they were ‘exceptionally kind and caring.’ In 2017, the CQC rated The Christie as the best specialist trust in the country, and one of the top three trusts overall in England.