Swansea's Lord Mayor goes the extra mile to support cancer charity appeal

A fundraising appeal to support Swansea’s very own cancer centre has been given the Lord Mayor of Swansea’s seal of approval.

Councillor Cheryl Philpott has made the Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal her chosen charity during her one-year term of office.

The appeal, run by Swansea Bay Health Charity, aims to raise £200,000 to support patients and staff at the South West Wales Cancer Centre, or SWWCC, in Singleton Hospital.

(Above: Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cheryl Philpott, with Swansea Bay Health Charity's charity support manager, Lewis Bradley, and SWWCC oncology service manager Kate Ashton)

Run by Swansea Bay University Health Board, the SWWCC provides a range of life-saving NHS treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Councillor Philpott, who has represented the Sketty Ward since 2004, explained why she chose Going the Extra Mile for Cancer as her charity.

“It’s because cancer does not discriminate, not by postcode, gender, age or religious belief,” she said.

“I’m certain most of us know someone who has been affected by it or know families who have lost loved ones. Patients, like a very dear friend of mine, can sometimes be faced with arduous treatment.

“There are, thank goodness, people who have 'rung the bell' as they find their treatment has been successful and their outcome is positive.”

Swansea Bay Health Charity, the health board’s official charity, launched the appeal last September to coincide with the SWWCC’s 20^th anniversary.

It will support the thousands of patients from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda areas cared for there every year, as well as relatives and staff.

Charity and the cancer centre have always gone hand in hand. The SWWCC was created following a fundraising campaign that saw £1 million raised. That triggered a £30 million investment by the health authority and Welsh Office that led to the centre’s establishment.

Since then it has received countless donations from grateful patients, families and other supporters.

A recent example of how donations are put to good use is a major refurbishment of the Chemotherapy Day Unit, CDU, after it moved from its old home at the back of the hospital to Ward 9.

The £80,000 cost was met by existing charitable funds. Now it’s hoped Going the Extra Mile for Cancer will support the next big project.

This involves converting the old CDU building into a dedicated outpatient suite complete with a warm and welcoming waiting area.

(Pictured: SWWCC oncology service manager Kate Ashton in one of the old CDU rooms)

Councillor Philpott said: “By creating a space that is welcoming and feels non-clinical, despite the clinical need, it is hoped the patient experience will be as positive as possible.  

“The goal is to raise £200,000 to create that amazing space and the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund is part of the team that delivers on that aspiration.

“There are about 250,000 people living in Swansea. If each of us handed over just £1, we’d get there in no time at all.

“Please join me in backing this appeal.”

Lewis Bradley, charity support manager with Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “Having shown Cheryl around the cancer centre at Singleton Hospital, I could see she is very passionate about making a difference for people who need support the most.

“Cheryl has many ideas regarding fundraising for our Going the Extra Mile Appeal and we look forward to supporting her, and her team in making it as successful as possible.

“We would like to thank Cheryl for choosing Swansea Bay Health Charity and wish her the very best for her year in office.”

Follow this link if you want to support the Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal.