A SOUTH Lakeland primary school will hold a special birthday party next week to celebrate the anniversary of the local cancer treatment centre, and everyone is invited. 

On March 1, pupils at Burton Morewood Primary School in Burton-in-Kendal will raise money for Rosemere Cancer Centre's 20 Years Anniversary Appeal with a cake sale.

This is to fund three ground-breaking projects that will ensure the centre is at the forefront of global efforts to overcome cancer.

Tammy Hoskins, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s local area fundraiser, said: “Rosemere Cancer Centre was opened in March 1997 so that people living in South Cumbria and Lancashire could receive radiotherapy and other specialist cancer treatment much nearer to home.

“We, the charity the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, launched at the same time as the centre opened to help ensure that not only it but also our local hospitals could bring world class cancer treatments and services to local patients.

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"Now we are using what is the centre’s coming of age year to try and raise £1.5 million to fund a trio of projects that will mean local people have access to the very latest in surgical systems, the newest drugs and the best model for in-patient care.”

Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s 20 Years Anniversary appeal is raising money for the latest in robotic surgical systems which will be used to treat patients with gastrointestinal, bowel and gynaecological cancers.

It will enable surgeons to use keyhole rather than open surgery on hard to reach parts of the body and in complex procedures so reducing the risk of complications and speeding recovery time.

It is also raising money for a state-of-the-art research facility to enable more patients to participate in clinical trials to help the development of the treatment of tomorrow today.

Finally, money will be given to redevelop the centre’s in-patient Ribblesdale Ward.

It will be transformed from a traditional Florence Nightingale model into a modern 'home from home' with places to socialise, make snacks and drinks plus private bays that will provide quiet and restful areas not only for patients but also, for relatives wishing to stay.

While the 20 Years Anniversary Appeal focuses on the Rosemere Cancer Centre, over the last year, Rosemere Cancer Foundation has invested £142,428 in projects to benefit local cancer patients being treated at hospitals managed by the University of Morecambe Bay Hospitals Foundation Trust.

Burton Morewood Primary's party will be held from 2 pm to 3.30 pm, and parents, friends and the whole community can enjoy tea, coffee and cake for the cause at the school hall.

Ms Hoskins said: “We are very grateful to the staff and pupils of Burton Morewood Primary School for embracing the appeal and hope that their enthusiasm inspires the local community to support it, initially by coming in to the school for tea and cake!”

For more information, visit www.rosemere.org.uk