Beatson Cancer Charity has announced raising over £6.5 million in its first two years since launch, smashing the original £5.5 million target.

This amazing achievement has enabled actual and committed expenditure on a variety of services and projects to support cancer patients and their families.

This includes the unique Specialist Health and Work Service where clinical staff with extensive experience engage with and support cancer patients to continue to work during treatment and to return to work post treatment as well as advocating on their behalf when required.

Fully funded by the charity and in partnership with the NHS, the service provides levels of support to patients in a way that best suits them, with options of a telephone call and face to face meetings. Patients are assigned a specialist practitioner who works closely with them throughout their cancer journey.

Beatson Cancer Charity has committed £500,000 to the Specialist Health and Work Service to ensure that its patients receive the best advice about their working future helping to minimise further stress and anxiety during their treatment.

Some of the other funding highlights already committed include: 

Beatson Cancer Charity staff and volunteers have a direct impact on patients and families throughout the cancer centre from its welcome service which welcomes and accompanies patients/families to their destination to our direct engagement around the wards and departments.

The charity has delivered 14,000 complementary therapies for cancer patients and their families at the Wellbeing Centre, throughout The Beatson and across the west of Scotland at The New Victoria Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and The Lanarkshire Beatson.

Without fundraising none of this would be possible and the charity’s 17,324 supporters have made such a difference to cancer patients and their families. In two years, the charity has had support from 12,363 donors and 4,961 fundraisers. Over two years the flagship Off The Beatson Track event, a 6.5 mile family sponsored walk around the west end of Glasgow, has raised over £280,000 with 3,150 participants taking part.

Commenting on the success of the charity David Welch, Chief Executive of Beatson Cancer Charity said: “We are continually inspired by the courage and generosity of cancer patients and their families and we are overwhelmed by the public and staff response to the charity. We have had an incredible two years and would like to thank everyone who has been part of our amazing journey, helping to make a difference to the lives of so many people affected by cancer.”

With 14,467 new cases of cancer registered in the west of Scotland every year, David advises that the hard work is far from over. He continues: “As much as we are astounded at the impact of the money we have raised, there is still a long way to go in the fight against cancer. We hope that everyone will continue to show their support through fundraising, volunteering and donating to the charity.

‘’Beatson Cancer Charity is prominently positioned at the forefront of the cancer centre and has been embraced and adopted by patients and families as well as by Beatson staff. The charity aims to further develop the partnership with NHSGGC and raise the profile of The Beatson as a world leading, internationally renowned cancer centre and together to do all that we can to beat cancer.” 

For more information on Beatson Cancer Charity please visit www.beatsoncancercharity.org