Morrisons Foundation donates £65,000 to help improve the lives of people affected by cancer
Funding plasma thawers
A grant of £15,000 will enable The Royal Marsden to invest in two plasma thawers (pictured right), devices which are crucial in the preparation and delivery of plasma-based blood components to cancer patients. They will benefit hundreds of patients treated at The Royal Marsden across both hospital sites in Sutton and Chelsea. Plasma thawers are urgently needed to support patients having complex surgery, and more recently, to assist in plasma research studies in which specially selected frozen plasma is given to patients as a trial treatment for COVID-19 infections.
Funding a chemotherapy treatment bay
The Morrisons Foundation also provided a donation of £50,000 which will be used to fund a brand-new chemotherapy treatment bay in the Oak Cancer Centre, a state-of-the-art research and treatment facility being funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. New treatment bays will provide a relaxing, private environment for patients undergoing treatment and will be equipped with comfortable chairs and individual entertainment systems designed to make the experience as calm and positive as possible for patients.
The Oak Cancer Centre
The Oak Cancer Centre is due to open in 2022 and will bring together over 400 researchers under the same roof as patients and clinicians, in spaces designed to encourage collaboration and to put patients at the heart of research. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has raised £64 million of the £70 million needed to complete the Oak Cancer Centre. Named after Oak Foundation who donated £25 million, the Charity is now asking the public to help raise the final millions needed to make the building a reality.
Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said:
“On behalf of the Charity I’d like to say a huge thank you to The Morrisons Foundation for their generous donation; we’re delighted that they have decided to support us, particularly during such challenging times. Their support will make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.”
David Scott, Morrisons Foundation Trustee said,
“I’m delighted that we have been able to provide this support to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. I’m very proud that the Foundation has been able to help the charity’s vital work both right now and for patients in the future.”
The Morrisons Foundation was set up by Morrisons supermarket in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help improve people’s lives. The £50,000 donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity was given in 2019 with the second grant being awarded more recently in 2020.
The Oak Cancer Centre will help to build hope for people affected by cancer and speed up the development of new treatments for cancer patients throughout the UK and beyond. Find out more about the Centre.