The Isle of Wight will get a new cancer support centre after raising an incredible £100,000.
Last March, the Island branch of Wessex Cancer Trust launched its Building for the Future appeal and, following a series of events and donations, the £100,000 target has now been met.
The final £6,000 was raised in a 12-hour cycleathon at Isle of Wight Radio on Wednesday. Level 42’s Mark King donated £1,000 and was among the 60 Islanders who took part. Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson, representatives from the NHS, fire service, school pupils and the IW Council’s leader Dave Stewart and chief executive John Metcalfe also cycled alongside members of the Isle of Wight Radio team.
The final donations were made by a number of kind-hearted Island businesses and residents, including ICR Systems, Yarmouth’s Muddy Paws Pet Shop, WRS Systems and long-standing supporters of the charity Chris Jarman and Barbara Ritters.
Events, such as last summer’s Inflatable Rainbow Run, also helped raise a large chunk of the total, with £40,000 raised and 1,000 people taking part in its first year.
Lorraine White, Community Engagement Manager for Wessex Cancer Trust, said:
“Isle of Wight, you’ve done it, you’ve smashed the £100,000 target and your efforts will go a long way in helping us support Islanders affected by cancer.
“We have been totally overwhelmed by the support we’ve received since we launched this appeal.
Article continues below this advertisement “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you that has donated, attended one of our events or helped make them happen – what a year it has been.
“We know some of you are still fundraising for the appeal and we can assure you any further donations will only help to make the new centre even better than we ever imagined.”
It is hoped work on the new centre in Newport’s Lugley Street will begin on 1st May.
So why now Dec 2019 is wessex support in such as state!!! Too many high paid jobs maybe. So how can we help.. After all is said and done we need to Conquer Cancer.
Not pay for the massive wages without real commitment I feel. Ordinary folk here iow want to be there, why? To help ordinary folk of the iow
PS already set up a cancer support group here 2011…want to help wessex to Continue as they helped us along the way!!! So looking forward to your response. Regards
Margaret Turnbull
trustee of
IOW Prostate Cancer group 2011-2016