Charity calls it a day after 20 years of fundraising for cancer centre

A SUCCESSFUL and devoted charity that has raised almost half a million pounds for a cancer centre has finally called it a day after 20 years.

Friends of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) decided to go out with a bang with a final cheque presentation of £44,512 towards chemotherapy pumps for the centre.

Chairman of the charity, David Brooke, presented the group's final cheque to Williams, general manager for cancer services, and consultant clinical oncologist Dr Peter Ostler, at a special get-together on Monday (24).

Mr Brooke said: "It's a sad day and we all have lots of fond memories but it just had to be done.

"The amount of donations was dropping away and my wife and I then decided to move away from the area.

"Underneath all this was the thought that we didn't want it to just dwindle away. We wanted to go out with a big final cheque and we've definitely done that.

"We've had a fantastic time and raised over £440,000 without taking anything away for admin costs.

"In this day and age when you get fundraisers earning £30k a year and we do it for nothing you know it's a pretty special thing."

The event, held in the board room of the cancer centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, marked the end of two decades of dedicated fundraising by the group.

The team have organised a variety of events over the years but perhaps will be best remembered for the golf days, which alone raised over £80,000.

They have bought everything from carpets and furniture to state-of-the art brachytherapy equipment to tackle prostate cancer.

Mrs Williams said: "The Friends of MVCC have been true friends to the staff and patients of our service. I have a great deal of admiration for the hard work and dedication they have put into the fundraising over the years.

"The committee has been a small but loyal band of supporters offering up views and opinions as well as funds.

"I will miss them personally and I know the cancer centre will miss their contributions to our service."