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from Manchester Evening News Friday 22 June 2001
BY PATRICIA ROBERT YOU'VE done it! The great Manchester public has swept world-renowned The Christie to its £25m centenary fund target. It has taken just four years to complete tire biggest charity appeal ever mounted outside London. Appeal bosses at Christie - Europe's biggest cancer centre - were cracking open the champagne today and toasting "unprecedented public support". It has been achieved bang on target - in the year the Withington-based centre celebrates 100 years of cancer treatment and research. The appeal was launched in a bid to revolutionise cancer treatment in the 21st century and was masterminded by appeals director Angela Roden. Angela - who discovered only last year that she had breast cancer from which she has now recovered - said today: "The £25m will equip us with advanced equipment and facilities to move The Christie to the next phase of the continuing right against cancer." Delighted appeal chairman Lord Wade of Chorlton praised the army of Christie supporters, including patients, families and the "just kind-hearted" who had "sweated and strained" to make it succeed. None have been more generous than readers of the M.E.N. who backed our support for the appeal. At the height of the appeal, when The Christie hit a major cash crisis, the M.E.N. launched a campaign which successfully persuaded the government to invest more cash in the hospital. As a bonus, more than £1m poured unto appeal funds - cash which organisers said could be directly attributed to the involvement of the M.E.N's readers. Lord Wade said: "If ever proof were needed that this very special hospital holds a unique place in the hearts of the people in the north-west - and many other places this is it. We have been supported the length and breadth of Britain and even abroad." The Duchess of Kent, patron of the hospital and the appeal, sent her own message of congratulations to all those who had worked so hard to make the dream come true. She said: "You've taken It upon yourselves to do more than we ever hoped or dreamed you would be able to, Some of the results of your dedication and hard work are already plain to see and staff and patients are greatly in your debt." Though the appeal target looked daunting, millions came pouring in to fund a "shopping list" of 11 key projects for ground-breaking research, innovative patient facilities and the development of more effective and "kinder" cancer treatment. As a result, say hospital bosses, Christie has been able to bring the new developments together at one centre, which has attracted international Interest and bright new talent from around the world. The appeal won the support of people from all walks of life. They included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Westminster, whose wife fought breast cancer, wealthy businessmen, and pensioners. Many were moved to help because, their own lives or those of family and friends had been touched by cancer, often as they worked to help the appeal. |
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General Charitable Fund Registered Charity No 1049751 |
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£25m
Thank You