Royal Surrey Celebrates 30th Birthday with Launch of New £10 million Fundraising Appeal

The Royal Surrey County Hospital is launching an exciting new fundraising appeal today, Thursday 24^th February.  The Royal Surrey Appeal aims to raise £10 million for the hospital over the next three years. 

The appeal is being launched in the same week as the Royal Surrey celebrates its 30^th anniversary. The hospital was opened by its Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, on 27^th February 1981. 

The Royal Surrey Appeal has been set up to raise money for a number of different projects at the Trust and to invest in new cancer and general hospital equipment.  There is an extensive list of equipment that the money will be channelled towards, including an ultrasound machine for critical care, ventilators for intensive care and a new MRI scanner, which will cost £1.8 million alone.  There are also plans for a new radiotherapy treatment called stereotactic radiotherapy, which will be used to treat brain tumours that are currently inoperable.

Nick Moberly, Chief Executive of the Royal Surrey said:

“Fundraising is becoming an increasingly important part of the way in which the NHS is responding to the current economic climate.  Continuing to offer our patients the highest quality of care and medical expertise is paramount and increasing our investment in new equipment and facilities across the hospital is a priority for the Trust”.

The appeal was set up by the Royal Surrey Hospital Charitable Fund and is supported by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mrs Sarah Goad.  Under the slogan of “We’ll get there together” the appeal seeks the support of individuals, companies, charitable funds and the community to help reach this ambitious target.

Peter Dunt, Chairman of the Trust said:

“It is very important that this appeal is successful.  The NHS is facing challenging times and our Trust is no exception. 

“We are hoping that local people, patients and their families get behind the Royal Surrey and support our Appeal to help raise money towards these exciting new projects and vital pieces of medical equipment.”

There are already a number of events in the pipeline as part of the new appeal including:

 16^th April - Bolt round the Holt, a 5K, 10k, and half marathon around Alice Holt Forest 

13^th June - Clay pigeon shoot at Bisley Shooting Ground, including breakfast and lunch

24^th June - Dusk till Dawn, a walk from Farnborough to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, please call Sheila Boniface on 01276 36910 for more details

9^th July - The Hurt, a 10k walk or run through the Hurtwood

3^rd October - Texas Scramble Golf day, at Milford Golf Club

There are also over 100 different trekking opportunities for all levels of fitness at a huge range of different locations.

For further details about the Royal Surrey Appeal or any of the events listed please visit our website: http://www.royalsurreyappeal.nhs.uk/ or call Lucy Crockford, Events and Community Fundraising Manager, on 01483 464146.