£100,000 target for new Isle of Wight cancer centre reached!

Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson with Wolly and Isle of Wight Radio’s Paul Topping.

The Isle of Wight will get a new cancer support centre after raising an incredible £100,000.

Last March, the Island branch of Wessex Cancer Trust launched its Building for the Future
appeal and, following a series of events and donations, the £100,000 target has now been met.

The final £6,000 was raised in a 12-hour cycleathon at Isle of Wight Radio on Wednesday.

Level 42’s Mark King donated £1,000 and was among the 60 Islanders who took part.
Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson, representatives from the NHS, fire service, school pupils and the IW Council’s leader Dave Stewart and chief executive John Metcalfe also cycled alongside members of the Isle of Wight Radio team.

England and IW beach soccer players after taking part in the cycleathon.

The final donations were made by a number of kind-hearted Island businesses and residents, including ICR Systems, Yarmouth’s Muddy Paws Pet Shop, WRS Systems and long-standing supporters of the charity Chris Jarman and Barbara Ritters.

Events, such as last summer’s Inflatable Rainbow Run, also helped raise a large chunk of the total, with £40,000 raised and 1,000 people taking part in its first year.

Community Engagement Manager Lorraine White said: “Isle of Wight, you’ve done it, you’ve smashed the £100,000 target and your efforts will go a long way in helping us support Islanders affected by cancer.

“We have been totally overwhelmed by the support we’ve received since we launched this
appeal.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you that has donated, attended one of our events or helped make them happen – what a year it has been.

“We know some of you are still fundraising for the appeal and we can assure you any further donations will only help to make the new centre even better than we ever imagined.”

It is hoped work on the new centre in Newport’s Lugley Street will begin on May 1st.