Clatterbridge launches major fundraising appeal to transform Halton Unit

Major fundraising appeal is being launched by Clatterbridge Cancer Charity to raise £250,000 to completely transform and upgrade Halton Unit.

The £250,000 appeal was launched with the support of the Mayor of Halton, Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, and the squad from Warrington Wolves rugby league club, who saw plans for the refurbishment of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre unit in Halton during a special event.

Cllr Lloyd Jones, her Consort and husband Peter and Deputy Mayor Cllr Pamela Wallace, joined Wolves head coach Sam Burgess, his assistant Richard Marshall and their players for the launch.

There, they met patients and staff as well as representatives from Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, who revealed plans for the crucial work to create a modern, welcoming environment to match the excellence of care. It will also increase the capacity to treat more local patients.

The Halton unit plays a vital role in delivering cancer treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other targeted treatments to patients across Halton, Warrington and surrounding communities. It is run and staffed by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

However, the ward is now in need of refurbishment, with facilities no longer reflecting the high standard of care provided.

The planned refurbishment will:

Increase patient capacity to meet growing demand
Provide comfortable treatment chairs and flexible bays, allowing patients to either chat with others or enjoy greater privacy during treatment
Ensure patients at Halton benefit from superb facilities and a bright, modern treatment environment for many years to come

With demand for cancer services continuing to rise, the appeal aims to fund the refurbishment by October 2026. The total cost of the work is £1 million, with £750,000 having already been raised by the Charity, who now need a quarter of a million pounds to complete the work.

Laura Selby, Ward Manager of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Halton clinic, said:

“All the staff here are incredibly excited about the plans. It is going to be brilliant for patients and for staff as it will increase our treatment capacity and enable us to offer more complex and combination therapies.

“We are so grateful to the Charity for launching this appeal to fund the work and to everyone who is supporting the fundraising. Thanks so much to the Mayor of Halton and Warrington Wolves for visiting us and seeing firsthand what a difference this refurbishment will make for our patients.”

Patricia Barlow, from Stockton Heath, is a patient at the Halton ward, following a diagnosis of breast cancer.

She said:

“This is a club I never wanted to be part of but the staff in Halton immediately made me feel safe and cared for. I would say to anyone getting treated here ‘you are in good hands’.

“This modernisation will enable the staff to care for patients in a better environment, and they will be able to treat more people closer to home. The local community needs this ward, and I would appeal to everyone to back this appeal.”

Katrina Bury, Chief Executive of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said:

“I would like to thank all our guests for supporting this campaign. It was wonderful to meet them and explain how our fundraising will help create a welcoming and calm space for patients.

“For 30 years, our Charity’s supporters have helped fund projects to improve the lives of people with cancer in Cheshire and Merseyside, from improvements to infrastructure, research into new treatments, cutting edge equipment, enhancing the patient environment and so much more. We are hopeful they will respond to this appeal with their trademark enthusiasm and generosity.

“It is fitting that in the 30^th year of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity our fundraisers will once again be helping lay the foundations for the treatments of the future.”

Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones said:

“I lost my mum to cancer when I was a young girl. When she was being treated, my sister and I had to travel by two buses and a ferry to visit her in The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral.

“Things have improved so much since then and it is so important for both patients and their families to have a facility like this locally.

“The plans for the refurbishment are great and will only improve what is already an excellent treatment centre with a lovely atmosphere.”

The Halton campaign will engage the local community, businesses and other donors, with opportunities for individuals and organisations to play a direct role in modernising the ward and increasing treatment capacity.