Press release - 3rd July 2008
Christie celebrates its diamond ladies
Chief executive Caroline Shaw, chairman of the WTF Mrs Mary Walker and Sally WhittakerCoronation Street star Sally Whittaker helped the Christie Hospital say thank you to a very special group of women yesterday who are celebrating an astonishing 60 years of fundraising for the specialist cancer treatment centre.
The Women’s Trust Fund was formed in 1948 at the birth of the National Health Service to raise money for cancer research and they have now raised nearly £4 million through door to door collections, coffee mornings, fairs and charity events.
Their achievements have helped the Christie invest in pioneering facilities throughout the years, including the Paterson Institute laboratories in 1962, the leukaemia unit which was opened by the Duchess of Kent in 1987, audio-visual technology for surgical experts and extensive equipment for drug trials, laboratories and the treatment of surgical cancer.
The WTF is made up of a series of committees throughout the area, and today seven of the 24 committees remain. Members of each committee were invited to a special reception at the Christie during which they were thanked for their efforts and presented with a special award by Sally Whittaker.
Sally said: “I feel very honoured to be here today to help say thank you to these remarkable ladies. The work they have done is truly remarkable and very humbling.”
Chief executive of the Christie Hospital, Caroline Shaw, said: “The dedication and generosity of these remarkable women has enabled us to advance cancer care and treatment. They have had a hand in helping to save and improve the lives of many thousands of patients. We’d like to say thank you and congratulations on a truly applaudable 60 years.”
Lady Margaret Holt, whose family helped establish the Christie Hospital, was the first chairman of the Women’s Trust Fund until 1988. She was replaced by Mrs Mary Walker, who is still chairman today and was awarded an MBE in 1996 in recognition of her work, having been a member since 1960. Mrs Walker said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating 60 years. We have a very dedicated group of ladies and I do think it is wonderful the way we have come to together over the years to raise so much money to help people with cancer.”
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The Christie Hospital in Manchester is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe - registering around 12,500 new patients and treating about 40,000 patients every year.
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