Edward Davey MP Hosts Kingston Can Fundraiser

8.07.04

Edward Davey MP, the Liberal Democrat member for Kingston and Surbiton, is to host a dinner in the Palace of Westminster tonight for Kingston Can., Kingston Hospital's Cancer Trust. This is to support them in their bid to raise £3.5 million to build and equip a new cancer department at Kingston Hospital.

Kingston Can have raised over £2 million so far for the new unit, which will be named 'The Sir William Rous Unit' as a memorial to the Chairman of Kingston Hospital from December 1996 until his death from cancer in May 1999. This amount has been achieved through events such as the Blue Tulip Ball at the Dorchester, which Edward Davey also donated prizes to, and the Flora 5k charity run. The dinner in the Churchill Rooms in the House of Commons, which is to include an auction and a raffle, will further boost the charity's coffers and set it well on its way to achieving the £3.5 million goal.

Edward Davey, who will be speaking at the event, commented,

"I am delighted to be part of what is such an important campaign for Kingston and the surrounding area.

"Kingston hospital has an excellent record on fighting cancer, with the latest performance indicators showing that the survival rates for patients with the three most common cancers are among the best in the country.

"It is vital that the hospital builds on this reputation as a leading cancer centre by improving the facilities available. The Sir William Rous Unit will do just that.

"Planning permission has already been granted for the Unit, so it really is just a question of raising the funds. Kingston Can aims to open the new unit in 2005, and, if people continue to give as generously as they have been, this target will be met with ease.

"The event will not only help to reach that target but will raise awareness of the excellent work of Kingston Can and what they hope to achieve for my constituency and South West London in general." Kingston Can.: www.kingstoncan.org.uk