Frome’s three Rotary Clubs and Inner Wheel have helped raise the final £7,000 needed to establish a Systematic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Centre at Frome Medical Centre.
The clubs dedicated all proceeds from their Pop-Up Charity Shop throughout February and March to support the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group’s (BCUSG) fundraising campaign. The campaign aimed to raise £64,000 by the end of March to cover renovations and equipment, including reclining chairs, infusion pumps and a drugs fridge for the new treatment centre.
The Rotary in Frome shop, run by volunteers from the four clubs, set out to raise the final £7,000 to make the centre a reality. The new facility will provide systematic anti-cancer treatment—used to control or treat cancer—locally, reducing the need for patients to travel. Treatments offered may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, or a combination of these. SACT can be given on its own, before or after surgery, or alongside radiotherapy.
“We are delighted the target has been reached,” said Kim Barter, president of Frome Rotary Club. “As well as supporting sustainable shopping and reducing waste, all of the income achieved over the last six weeks has funded this much-needed cancer treatment facility in Frome.”
Alongside the Rotary and Inner Wheel donation, BCUSG received a generous £50,000 grant from the local Richard Oatley Foundation, as well as public contributions.
BCUSG chairman Michael Taylor added, “We are delighted to support a project that will make treatment more accessible for patients, reducing travel difficulties while increasing availability for those undergoing chemotherapy.”
Pictured: The shop volunteers and chairman Michael Taylor from BCUSG celebrate the successful fundraising campaign
