A tweeting teddy bear is leading the final push in the campaign to transform Rosemere Cancer Centre’s Ribblesdale Ward.

Rosie Bear, who is the new mascot of staff and patients at the Royal Preston Hospital ward, will be posting Twitter updates using #raise4ribblesdale.

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Rosie is also being lined up for meetings with architects, builders and clinical staff, who are all involved in Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s £842,000 project to revamp the ward to a design by staff and patients.

Acting oncology matron Sarah Welsh said: “Work is due to start in spring, and Rosie is the bear with her nose to the ground.

“The plan is for Rosie to keep everyone up to date with what’s going on via Twitter, through to the project’s completion by the end of autumn next year.

“We are also hoping Rosie will be able to contribute to the project financially as we will be selling some mini Rosie Bears to help fund the work.”

Read more: How Ribblesdale Ward at Royal Preston Hospital may look after revamp

The project, which has so far raised £600,000, aims to create a contemporary ward for the future. It will have oncology patient appropriate en suite bays, a family room with its own kitchenette, day rooms, a quiet room, and end of life suites.

The ward’s overhaul is the third project in the Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s £1.5 million 20 Years Anniversary Appeal. The appeal launched last year to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of Rosemere Cancer Centre at Royal Preston Hospital.

The appeal reached its target in May, having bought the most advanced robotic surgical system on the market, funded an oncology research co-ordinator post, and created a pharmacy and path lab in the hospital’s clinical research centre.

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Of the money raised, £158,000 was initially earmarked for the Ribblesdale Ward’s refurbishment, but the opportunity then arose for a more radical take on the project.

Dan Hill, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s head of fundraising, said: “It was too good an opportunity to ignore and since it came to light, we have been adding to the appeal money set aside through activities such as our Walk in the Dark in April and our Great Wall of China trek last month.

“Many supporters have also taken #raise4ribblesdale on board, including a number of the ward’s former patients. We are now approaching our end target and hopefully, Rosie Bear can help us in the final push!”

Rosie Bears are on sale for £6 each from the Ribblesdale Ward and the Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s office within the Cancer Centre. They can also be requested by emailing info@rosemere.org.uk, and will be posted for an extra £2.95.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to patients throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria by funding equipment, research, training and other services that are beyond limited NHS resources. For more information or to donate visit www.rosemere.org.uk.

Have you or has someone you know been on the Ribblesdale Ward? Will you be buying a Rosie Bear? Let us know in the comments below.