A £20,000 “lifeline” grant has been awarded to Rosemere Cancer Foundation to help the charity keep the doors to its Late Effects PRD (Pelvic Radiation Disease) Clinic open.

The vital money has been granted by the Barrow-in-Furness based Sir John Fisher Foundation.

The clinic at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s regional specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, launched last February (February 2020.)

Read more: Young woman inspired by poem at uncle’s funeral raises over £600 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation

Since opening it has helped all patients left with life impacting side-effects following radical radiotherapy treatment to the pelvic area for cancers such as cervical, womb and other gynaecological cancers, prostate cancer and bowel and bladder cancers.

With just short of 1,000 new patients from across the two counties undergoing radical pelvic radiotherapy annually at Rosemere Cancer Centre, together with those who have been putting up with PRD symptoms for years, there are thousands of potential patients living locally for the clinic to treat.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation agreed to fund the clinic’s set-up and cover its costs for its first three years, a commitment of £283,521. However, the coronavirus pandemic has subsequently severely hit Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s ability to fundraise.

The charity’s chief officer Dan Hill said: “The award from the Sir John Fisher Foundation is a lifeline for the PRD Clinic. The clinic is a project we have wanted to undertake for many years as our whole focus is about improving the lives of local cancer patients whether they are present or past patients.

“We were delighted when its doors opened last February. Little did we know then how spectacularly bad the timing would prove to be.”

Read more: Rosemere Cancer Foundation relaunching lotto appeal to raise funds

David Dawson, executive of the Sir John Fisher Foundation, said: “The board of trustees is pleased to be able to fund support during this difficult period for those suffering from the effects of Pelvic Radiation Disease in the Lancashire and South Cumbria area.

“We have a history of supporting the fantastic work carried out by Rosemere Cancer Foundation and our hope is that those who find themselves needing further help do come forward.” 

The latest news updates in your area can be seen below

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines