A leading hospital charity in the East of England is launching its first festive fundraiser â aimed at including as many hospital staff as possible.
Launching its Festive Sock Day on Thursday 4th December, Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), whose supporters help fund cutting-edge equipment and pioneering research that brings huge advancements in patient care, said they wanted to introduce a festive fundraiser that hospital staff could take part in.
Explaining why the focus is on Christmas socks and not jumpers, Bec Beattie, Public Campaign and Event Manager for ACT, said: âWe know that nursing staff arenât able to wear Christmas Jumpers, but they CAN wear Christmas socks.â
âFestive Sock Day is a fun and easy way for people to support Addenbrookeâs. Hospital staff, schools, businesses, members of the public â everyone can jump on board for this annual festive event, launching this year â and best of all, itâs really easy to take part.â
Hospital staff are jumping at the chance to get festive â with the Imaging Department already signed up to take part in the Festive Sock fundraiser. Other departments keen to don their festive socks include the hospitalâs Pathology department as well as Pharmacy.
Schools and education organisations that have signed up so far include Pathfinder CofE School in Ely; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub; Chesterton Primary School; St Johnâs CofE Primary School in Huntingdon; On Track Education in Mildenhall and Spinney Primary School in Cherry Hinton.
Ruby Grimwood, PA to the Pathology Directorate at Addenbrookeâs Hospital, said: âChristmas socks with a lab coat helps bring a splash of colour to a serious environment.â
âIn Pathology, it is important for us to keep a sterile and clean environment when handling patient samples, but also to protect ourselves from any hazardous materials. This means that we all have to wear lab coats to avoid contamination and keep ourselves safe. Christmas socks are a great way for the team to show some festive spirit and add some colour to our labs whilst still keeping up with our uniform standards.â
Businesses can also join in â and just like hospital staff, ACTâs Festive Sock Day allows businesses who might not normally be able to wear Christmas jumpers to take part in a bit of festive fun too.
One of ACTâs Corporate Partners, Cambridge Commodities in Ely, has already signed up â with lots of fun, fundraising activities planned throughout the day.
CEO James Stevens said: âCambridge Commodities staff love Christmas and they love Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust!â
âIn the past we have handed out daffodils to the hard-working staff and every year we raise money so that every patient receives a Christmas present on Christmas morning. Sadly, as a high quality, food-grade facility a lot of our staff are unable to wear festive jumpers due to how comfortable they are combined with PPE so we were so excited to see that ACT was launching a Festive Sock Day! What a wonderful idea to have a fully inclusive day where every member of staff can join in, don some festive colour whilst supporting a great cause.â
Asked what their plans were for the day, James said: âA few games will be played, maybe a three-legged sock race, maybe a sock-based dance-off… We will definitely have prizes for the greatest pair. Itâs great to involve everyone in giving back at CC where our core pillars are family, friendly and fun. This year we will be proud to spread warmth and joy, one sock at a time!â
In January this year, Jamesâ company became ACTâs first corporate partner to raise over half a million for the charity, after celebrating their seven-year partnership â raising a total, at the time, of ÂŁ561,810. The company continues to fundraise for ACT and will once again this year buy and wrap Christmas presents for every patient in Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie on Christmas Day.
Anyone feeling inspired to âJoin your Docs in Festive Socksâ can sign up now.
Itâs quick and easy to do and all you need to take part is a sense of fun and a pair of festive socks!
Bec Beattie said: âAll you need to do is âjoin your docs in festive socksâ, sign up on our sign up page and make a small donation â and sit back safe in the knowledge that you have helped to make Addenbrookeâs even better for our patients, their families and the brilliant people that care for us all every day.â
âDonât forget to send us your photos and tag Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust in on all your socials. We canât wait to see who will come up with the jazziest socks!â
A leading consultant at Addenbrookeâs Hospital has thanked Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust for bringing another âfirstâ not just to Cambridge but to the UK too – helping to pioneer an ultra-fast way of diagnosing kidney cancer and cutting waiting times between when they were first referred and a decision being made about their treatment, by a month.
In an exciting new development, supporters of Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrookeâs Hospital, helped fund a new piece of equipment known as a confocal microscope, which provides high resolution images of tissue samples, meaning that for the first time ever in the UK, patients with suspected kidney cancer can have a biopsy, receive a diagnosis and discuss treatment options â all on the same day.
A team of urologists, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nurses at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), which governs Addenbrookeâs Hospital in Cambridge, are using the microscope to diagnose biopsy samples in the clinic within minutes â reducing anxiety, cutting the number of hospital visits and allowing patients to begin treatment sooner.
A biopsy is often needed to determine if a lump or mass on the kidney is malignant. However, standard pathology analysis takes time to process, leaving patients potentially waiting weeks for cancer to be confirmed or ruled out, but with this new pioneering method, patients receive a diagnosis and discuss treatment options on the same day.
The ÂŁ250,000 confocal microscope, which was funded by Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) and the University of Cambridge, looks much like an office printer or scanner. More often used in dermatology, it provides high resolution images of tissue samples so once a sample is stained and scanned by the confocal microscope, pathologists at the kidney clinic can make an immediate diagnosis.
Prof. Grant Stewart
Professor Grant Stewart, consultant urologist at Addenbrookeâs Hospital and Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Cambridge said: âFor the first time in the UK, we are using a confocal microscope in this innovative way to benefit patients. Offering same day diagnosis helps reduce anxiety, cuts down on hospital appointments and means patients can have that all-important discussion with their doctor about treatment options significantly sooner.â
In research published today in European Urology Oncology, cancer waiting times for patients at the one-stop kidney Clinic, or CkOSMIC – the Cambridge kidney One-Stop Mass Investigation Clinic as it is known – were more than halved; cutting average waiting times by a month.
Patients on the typical multi-appointment pathway waited 55 days between first being referred and a decision being made about treatment, while patients at the one-stop kidney clinic waited just 25 days.
The majority of funding provided by ACT came from money left to the charity in supportersâ wills.
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and funds cutting-edge equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. Now in its 30th year, the charityâs supporters have donated more than ÂŁ150 million towards supporting innovation in patient care.
Thanking ACT supporters for their help funding this groundbreaking new approach, Professor Stewart said: âFor Addenbrookeâs Hospital to be able to take the lead on this as the first hospital in the UK to have this cutting-edge microscope is monumental and down to the kind donations of everyone who has supported our wonderful hospital charity, Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust. What patients at the hospital may not realise is that, without the support of ACT and everyone who donates to our amazing charity, we simply would not have the funds to buy innovative equipment or fund vital research here at Addenbrookeâs – and that is where we really excel, by bringing âfirstsâ to Cambridge that save lives.â
âBy donating to ACT, supporters look set to change the future practice of kidney cancer diagnosis with The Cambridge Kidney One Stop Mass Investigation Clinic (CKOSMIC) projectâ not just here, but across the UK too.â
âTo know that the majority of the funding from ACT in this instance comes from money left to the charity in peopleâs wills is incredibly humbling and as a consultant it is incredibly satisfying to be able to share with the families of these kind donors just what a difference their money has made, and will continue to make in months and years to come.â
Shelly Thake, Chief Executive at ACT, said: “I hope everyone reading this story and who has kindly donated to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust feels justly proud of the extraordinary impact this project is having, because this life saving project has been made possible because of them. This incredible piece of equipment, and the clinic that Grant has set up, is the perfect example of why ACT is here, to work with amazing clinicians and make possible their ideas that change and save lives. This project gives us a glimpse of what will be possible when the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is built – brilliant clinicians and pioneering research delivering early diagnoses and personalised treatment to change the story of cancer.”
Claire Billing, Director of Fundraising at ACT, said: âThe confocal microscope that has made this clinic possible has been paid for through gifts in wills – thousands of lives will be saved, and families touched, because these kind-hearted supporters took the decision to remember Addenbrooke’s in their wills, and wanted to make this wonderful hospital even better for future patients. This makes me proud beyond words. We take great pride in sharing with our supporters the real difference their support makes, and I hope everyone reading this who has thought about leaving a gift in their will feels inspired by the impact their future gift could make.â
Researchers compared the confocal microscope results with standard pathology tests and found the diagnoses made using the confocal microscope were both accurate and reliable. There was a 91.7% match between the diagnoses made using the confocal microscope and final pathology. In the other 8.3% of cases, the diagnoses agreed but the cancer subtype was uncertain.
Crucially, out of 48 patients evaluated in the study, none of the treatment plans made on the day at the one-stop clinic needed to be changed after their formal biopsy pathology analysis was completed.
While the confocal microscope is not intended to replace standard pathology tests â as they provide additional details like the cancer grade â the accuracy of the diagnoses made using the confocal microscope means clinicians can confidently discuss results and treatment options with patients much earlier.
Another advantage of the clinic is pathologists can instantly assess if a biopsy has been successful, if there is enough tissue to make a diagnosis, or if a second one is required. Four patients in the study were identified as needing a repeat biopsy which took place on the same day, without needing to wait and return to hospital at a later date for another appointment.
There was positive feedback from patients in the study, with 96% surveyed saying they had enough time to ask questions and consider treatment options on the day. Clinicians also supported offering a same-day diagnosis and would like to see it used more widely with 100% of urologists and pathologists agreeing the approach is suitable for initial diagnosis and treatment planning.
CkOSMIC sees two patients in each clinic, twice a week – seeing 4 patients a week and around 150 patients a year.
Prof Stewart, who is national lead for the Getting It Right First Time ideal pathway for kidney cancer and clinical director of the National Kidney Cancer Audit, helped develop new kidney cancer guidelines for NICE which recommend that more patients with suspected cancer should have a biopsy to confirm their diagnosis sooner, to treat their disease more effectively.
Prof Stewart hopes the one-stop kidney clinic approach could become standard care for renal tumour biopsies. There is also the potential for the approach to be applied to other cancers in the future.
The kidney clinic was influenced by work underway on service improvement and transformation as part of the development plans for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. The planned hospital will bring together clinical excellence and world-leading research under one roof, accelerating new innovations to help detect cancer earlier, meaning better outcomes for patients.
Click here to contribute towards future funding of cutting-edge equipment and groundbreaking research at Addenbrookeâs.
Ken Pottle, 63, visited the one-stop clinic in March after a scan for an unrelated condition showed a lump on his kidney. Following a biopsy and diagnosis of cancer, the semi-retired civil servant from Bury St Edmunds opted for thermal ablation, a treatment that uses heat to destroy tumours. Following treatment in April, he was given the all-clear a couple of weeks ago. Mr Pottle says he would not hesitate to recommend the kidney clinic.
Mr Pottle said: âIâm a very pragmatic person, so knowing I had a treatment plan in place helped me process my cancer diagnosis. Waiting to find out if you have cancer can be incredibly worrying. When I heard about the one-stop kidney clinic, I thought âwow, what a fantastic idea.â The fact that I could have a biopsy, receive a diagnosis and talk through treatment options with my doctor there and then, all on the same day, made such a difference.
Mr Pottle, who has five children and two grandchildren added: âFive months on from my treatment, Iâve now been given the all-clear. Iâm back at work and enjoying life, spending time with my children and grandchildren, and getting back on my motorbike. The whole process has been brilliant.â
Photos: Copyright Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH)
She may not have gone through to the finals – but we couldn’t be more proud of her!
Liza Putwain, our nominee for this year’s ITV Anglia’s Regional Fundraiser of the Year, may not have gone through to the finals of this year’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards 2025 – but we couldn’t be prouder of her and everything she has achieved!
As one of only four stories to be put through from the hundreds originally nominated, Liza Putwain’s story talks of resilience and strength – and thinking of others whilst battling life’s challenges herself.
In true Liza style, our amazing fundraiser from Suffolk contacted the winners from her region, Anglia East, to congratulate them on going through to next month’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain finals telling them she was glad they won.
Shelly Thake, Chief Executive of the Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), described 45-year-old Liza Putwain as ‘truly special’ and thanked her for everything she has done for the hospital charity.
âShe may not have got through to the finals but as a charity we could not be prouder of everything Liza and her family have achieved. As is evident from hearing Lizaâs family, friends, and Mark, her surgeon, and meeting her several times myself, she is a truly special person and inspiration to her family and everyone she encounters.â
Judges in this yearâs ITV Angliaâs Regional Fundraiser of the Year Awards chose Liza as one of four nominees out of hundreds after reading her extraordinary story, saying: âHer kindness and care for others shone through in her nomination.â
Lizaâs emotional story struck a chord with judges and was broadcast last week as one of four stories from the Anglia East region, which covers Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The winner was announced on Friday and will go through to the finals in London next month.
Liza, 45, a mother of three, broke her neck whilst taking part in an obstacle course in memory of her husband, Ian, who had died very suddenly after contracting a virus that all the family had had.
Following the accident in September 2023, Liza, a film studies teacher at Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds, was originally taken to Ipswich Hospital where she was told she had broken her neck and had suffered damage to her spinal cord. Not knowing if she would ever walk again, she was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s for her surgery and spent a month recovering in hospital.
Unable to move from her neck down, Liza had to rely on medical staff to do everything for her, from sitting her up in bed to prevent bed sores to scratching her nose to helping her into the shower and going to the toilet.
Apart from being terrified she might never walk again, Liza, a fiercely independent person, found it hard having to rely on others â but said it was her own personal experience of being in hospital that made her realise just how amazing staff are at Addenbrookeâs.
âYou feel very infantilised because you have to ask someone to help you go to the toilet and wait until somebodyâs ready to give you a shower. Particularly when you canât get out of bed, and you press a button, but you have to wait. I know the NHS is overstretched but itâs not until you are actually in that bed that you realise that.â
As a result of her experiences, Liza decided to fundraise for Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), the official hospital charity for Addenbrookeâs and stunned surgeons by running the London Marathon earlier this year – just over a year and a half after her accident.
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and funds high-tech equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. This year the charity celebrates its 30th year â and has revealed that in the first 30 years alone its supporters have donated more than ÂŁ150 million towards supporting innovation in patient care.
Talking about why Addenbrookeâs is so special to her and why she wanted to fundraise for ACT to give something back to the hospital, Liza said: âI love Addenbrookeâs. Itâs weird because you could go one way or another, and you could be like, I never want to see that hospital again, but I feel so safe here.â
In last weekâs emotional piece, on-screen reporter Andy Ward filmed Liza at home with her sister, Jo, and best friends Jo and Pennie â who helped look after Lizaâs three young children â Ella, 18; Sophie, 14; and her son Charlie, 11– whilst she was in hospital and were there for her during her recovery.
Andy also interviewed Lizaâs surgeon, Professor Mark Kotter, a neurosurgeon at Addenbrookeâs (pictured below) who was visibly moved during the interview when talking about Liza and her recovery, showing just how close the bond can be between patients and surgeons.
Shelly Thake, Chief Executive at ACT, congratulated Liza on her nomination and said: âEvery single day at ACT, we get to hear amazing stories from our fundraisers – often very moving and inspirational stories about how they got to be involved in fundraising for Addenbrookeâs through our charity. Sometimes, however, thereâs a really exceptional story that stops you in your tracks â and Lizaâs is one of those.â
âI canât imagine what it must have been like to have gone through what she has gone through â losing her husband unexpectedly after a brief illness and having to navigate that as a family with her three young children, then only to break her neck in a freak accident eight months later and not knowing if she would ever walk again or not. To go through all that and then get up and run the London Marathon the following year⊠Liza really is a true inspiration for all of us and someone who fully deserved her nomination.â
ITV Angliaâs Regional Fundraiser of the Year special was judged by former Olympian and discus champion Bill Tancred; ITV Anglia presenter David Whiteley and ITV Angliaâs Head of News Emma Baker.
Bronwen Brown, who produced the channelâs Regional Fundraiser of the Year special, said when choosing which of their fundraisers were picked for the special, and which ones later went through to the finals, judges were looking for âa fantastic fundraiser who has selflessly raised money for an amazing cause.â
âLiza was shortlisted as one of the finalists for the regional show because her story is incredible. She has gone through multiple hardships and still thinks about others before herself, raising thousands for ACT. Her kindness and care for others shone through in her nomination.â
Nominees from the Anglia East region who went through to the finals of next month’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards were parents Amanda and Jon Sheehy who lost their daughter Amber to a brain tumour in 2023, an hour before her ninth birthday. The couple founded Amber’s Army, raising over ÂŁ250,000 to help create memories for families with children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
ACT’s Chief Executive Shelly Thake speaking with Liza
Click here to watch Liza’s story again along with the other three nominees from the region, including Amanda and Jon Sheehy.
The finalist in the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards 2025 will be announced on the night, with the show broadcast liveon ITV.
This year is now the second year running that some of our fundraisers have been nominated for ITV Anglia’s Regional Fundraiser of the Year. Last year, we had two nominees in both the East and West region, David Bateson and Joyce Cripps. To read their story, click here.
Teams taking part in this yearâs 2025 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival have done it again â beating last yearâs fundraising total to raise an impressive ÂŁ40,000 for the new Cambridge Cancer Hospital (CCRH).
Thanking everyone who took part â from teams of rowers to volunteers who helped on the day, to friends and families and members of the public who came along to watch – Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trustâs Head of Community Fundraising, Donna Lee-Willis described Saturdayâs event as âbrilliant.â
âIt was such a great atmosphere, and I thought all the races were really close this year. When you are watching, you really canât call some of them, especially in the final â which was great.â
A total of 43 teams and around 600 competitors â including a last-minute entry from ACT after one team dropped out and donated their boat to the charity â raced 30ft Dragon Boats up a 200-metre stretch of river at Fen Ditton, with a novice team claiming first place this year.
The ‘Rowfessors’ from Illumina dressed as mad professorsRosie midwives dressed as characters from The Very Hungry Catapillar
Many of the teams dressed up for the annual event, organised by NewWave Events for Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) and sponsored for the second year running by Illumina to raise money for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH).
The new specialist hospital for the East of England is bringing world-leading research and clinical excellence together, to change the story of cancer, and improve the lives of cancer patients across the UK and beyond.
Built over seven floors, the new hospital will house three world-leading University of Cambridge research institutes focussing on early detection, integrated cancer medicine and precision breast cancer medicine to accelerate and bring new innovations to the bedside faster, detect cancer earlier and treat it more precisely.
Praising teams for their fundraising, Donna said: âEveryone that took part said there was a connection to the cancer hospital in some way or another and I definitely think this helped everyone get behind the fundraising, knowing what they were fundraising for.â
As well as the races, bankside entertainment included lion dances and Tai Chai displays from the Cambridge Chinese community, with family-friendly entertainment provided by Illumina, including strawberry DNA extraction and dragon chain making. There was also a caricature artist as well as face painting – with live coverage and interviews on the day from Cambridge Radio presenters Gavin Richards and Fen Orr Ewing, with print coverage from the Cambridge Independent.
ACT staff were also there on the day, running a Guess the Dogâs name competition (Biscuit!), hook a duck and a prize raffle.
A highlight of the day included a flypast from a 1945 Lancaster Bomber â the UKâs only surviving flying Bomber, nicknamed âThumperâ – which flew over the river before circling back round a couple of times to dip its wings to the waiting crowds.
Donna said other memorable moments from the festival included âthe screaming coming from the Illumina tent from the team dressed as the mad professors as they pulled off their eyebrows and moustachesâ as well as the Rosie Maternity Team, dressed as characters from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Senior midwife Annie West had stayed up until 2.30am the day of the festival hand sewing all the costumes, with midwife and boat drummer, Bethany Franqueira, deciding to shout âPush!â to her team, rather than âone, two!â
Mark Robinson, VP and GM, UK and Ireland, said: âIllumina is proud to once again have joined forces with ACT to support the 2025 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. This yearâs event was a fantastic success, bringing our teams together in support of a vital cause. Itâs always inspiring to see the energy and generosity of our community as we raise funds for the new Cancer Research Hospital at Addenbrookeâs. Weâre honoured to play a part in improving outcomes for children with cancer and giving back to the communities where we live and work.â
Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: âThere was a great turnout this year with lots of new teams which is always nice to see, with absolutely fantastic fundraising efforts from everyone. We were really happy to see the sun shining and the fly past was the icing on the cake for us as it hasnât been done for a few years.â
âThank you to all of our event and media partners – Illumina, Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust, Cambridge Radio and Cambridge Independent.â
Nikki Murphy, Deputy Project Director for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital said: âMany thanks to everyone who came to the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival this weekend, including all the crews, supporters and donors. This yearâs event raised around ÂŁ40,000 for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, which will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely, and save more lives. We would also like to extend our thanks to Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust for organising such a great event! We entered our own crew for the second year running and it was fabulous to have our team of staff and patients involved in such a fun event.â
The best dressed category went to the âRowfessorsâ â one of Illuminaâs three teams, dressed as mad professors in white lab coats, wild white wigs and stick-on eyebrows and moustaches. Highly Commended in the category went to the Rosie Maternity Hospital team, dressed as characters from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Ark Colour Design, dressed as sunflowers.
Charity Trophy for top fundraiser went to Crestel Projects Limited, who as of Saturday had raised just shy of ÂŁ1,700. Commended went to Ark Colour Design; Illumina; Thaxted Dragons; Telefonica Tech; Cambridge Vacuum Engineering and Cheffins (all who raised over ÂŁ1,000). A special thank you goes to The Tivoli in Cambridge for donating a Mini Golf session with prosecco and pizzas for the top prize.
In Mixed Crew (minimum of five female paddlers), 3rd place went to The Savillians from Savills; Runners up went to Hawaii Five-O from Four Corners Farming, with the Winning team â aptly named – The Winner Is! from TWI Ltd (UK).
Festival champions were Dragon Boat novices â Bango
Festival champions were Dragon Boat novices â Bango â whose exciting reaction to hearing theyâd won was great to watch! They came first with a time of 62.79 seconds. 4th place went to the Railway Arms with a time of 63.44; 3rd place went to Penta Row Paddlers from Pentaco Construction, with 63.27 and runners up went to Speedy Boaty from TWI Ltd (UK) with a time of 63.06.
ACT would like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone taking part who made this such a special event â with a pledge to make it âeven bigger and betterâ next year.
Donna Lee-Willis said: âNext year is going to be even bigger and better. We are going to raise more, have more teams and also add more activities on the day for families and entertaining.â
If you would like to donate to Cancer services at Addenbrookeâs and the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, please visit: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/cancer
Surgeons from the robotic surgery team at Addenbrookeâs Hospital in Cambridge have said they donât believe fully autonomous robots will ever replace them â but say they could foresee a future where they work alongside them, as in the aviation industry.
Surgons using the robot equipment during surgery
Speaking after their guest appearance on yesterdayâs (Sunday 27 June) ACTâs Amazing People – a radio collaboration between Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) and Cambridge Radio – surgeons Siong-Seng Liau and Michael Powar were asked for their views on the future of robotic surgery, following a recent story to come out of the States, where researchers from Johns Hopkins University reported that a robot had performed realistic surgery on its own with 100% accuracy.
The robot, trained on videos of surgeries, was able to remove a gallbladder from a life-like patient, performing a total of 17 tasks within the surgery, performing with the expertise of a skilled human surgeon, even during unexpected scenarios typical in real-life medical emergencies.
Asked where he could see the future of robotic surgery going, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Michael Powar said he did not think robots would ever work fully autonomously but did say he could foresee a future where robots would work alongside surgeons in theatre, much like co-pilots work alongside pilots in the aviation industry.
âThere may be opportunities for AI and automated systems to co-pilot and support or automate certain parts of the procedure in theatre but again there are other aspects such as the ethics of this and who takes responsibility, so lots of things to consider but it is exciting and interesting and as long as it benefits patients that is the important thing.â
Mr Siong-Seng Liau, a Consultant Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon and Chair of the Robotic Steering Group at Addenbrookeâs, stressed the importance of keeping the âhumanâ element of operations, saying: âOne of the things we must emphasise is that surgery is not just technical surgery. It is that relationship with the patient as well – and that can never be replicated from the robot standpoint and that is something you have heard about in the show in the case of my patient, Ms Hemming. It is so critical in ensuring that patients progress smoothly through the operation, especially complex operations like hers.â
Mr Liau and Mr Powar were interviewed on Sundayâs show, alongside Mr Liauâs patient, 76-year-old Ms Stephanie Hemming, from Cambridge, who was operated on using the da Vinci robotic system donated to Addenbrookeâs by ACT supporters.
L-R Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Michael Powar with Consultant Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgeon Siong-Seng Liau and patient Stephanie Hemming
Discussing her surgery on the show, Ms Hemming, who now has a successful âsecondâ career in art following her retirement, spoke about her operation which involved 70% of her pancreas being removed along with her entire spleen following a shock diagnosis of pancreatic cancer â with the operation described by Mr Liau as âa very major surgery with high complexity given the proximity of the cancer to some very important vessels and structures.â
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and funds high-tech equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
This year, ACT celebrates its 30th year â and has revealed that in the first 30 years alone its supporters have raised more than ÂŁ150 million towards supporting innovation in patient care.
Talking about the benefits of robot-assisted surgery, both consultants spoke about less invasive surgery, faster recovery times and quicker home times for patients.
The da Vinci Xi robotic system has also allowed some âfirstsâ to take place at Addenbrookeâs since ACT supporters funded the robot back in 2023 – including what has been named âSurgery Super Sundayâ – where a team of highly-skilled robotic surgeons and clinical staff carried out a record number of gallbladder removal operations in a single day using high-tech robots that assist with keyhole surgery.
In addition, the same highly trained team of surgeons and clinical staff have now been able to perform their first âdoubleâ robot-assisted surgery, operating on a cancer patient whose bowel cancer had spread to his liver. Following chemotherapy, the patientâs bowel cancer was removed by robot-assisted surgery, at the same time as the tumour in his liver.
âThe patient knew everything was taking place at the same time and he didnât have the anxiety and anguish of two separate procedures, recovering from one and getting well enough to have the second operation because that can take its time as well,â Mr Powar explained.
Stephanie Hemming post-op
Talking about her experience of having cutting-edge, robot-assisted surgery at Addenbrookeâs in January, Mr Liauâs patient, Ms Hemming, said her pancreatic cancer was only discovered by chance.
Having undergone another type of cutting-edge surgery at Royal Papworth six months earlier â a TAVI procedure, which is an alternative to open heart surgery where a new heart valve is inserted using a catheter whilst the patient is under sedation, Ms Hemming went to hospital with a âstrange feelingâ in her chest â which she said she only reported because of her earlier heart surgery. Further investigations revealed she had Stage One pancreatic cancer, a very aggressive type of cancer that is normally discovered at a much later stage.
Describing herself as âluckyâ – not just for her early cancer diagnosis but also for being lucky enough to live in Cambridge and undergo two lots of cutting-edge surgery, including robot-assisted surgery – Ms Hemming also spoke about the importance of the emotional connection between surgeons and their patients, praising Mr Liau for his ability to be both âwarm and authoritativeâ, adding: âWho would look forward to their meetings with a surgeon? But I would. Heâs just a very nice man.â
Apart from many of the operational questions, Mr Liau and Mr Powar were also asked about the atmosphere in the operating theatre â with Mr Liau comparing the inside of the operating theatre to âa well-orchestrated symphony, where you have multiple members of the team doing their own respective roles and responsibilities to ensure the operation completes safely. Apart from not having music of course.â
The 14 runners â each with their own very personal stories and reasons for running â completed Sundayâs Marathon on behalf of Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) in what is one of the most celebrated events in the London calendar with over 50,000 runners coming together to raise money for a sea of good causes.
The total raised for ACT so far is just over ÂŁ30,000, with donations still coming in.
The ACT Cheer Squad
Thanking all of the charityâs runners, Bridget Parr, ACTâs Community Fundraising Co-ordinator, said:
“All of them did amazingly. To be able to support them over the last year has been a real honour for me, just to be part of their journey. They are all so inspiring. They all have their own reasons for running â from people whose children have been ill or had life-saving operations, to another running in memory of a friend they lost, to one of our runners, who broke her neck and wasnât sure she would ever be able to walk again, much less run, so to be there with her family when she passed our cheer point, was very emotional.â
Bridget was part of the ACT âcheer squadâ along with the charityâs Head of Community Fundraising, Donna Lee-Willis, positioned to the side of St Paulâs Church in Shadwell â so able to cheer runners at both the 13.5-mile mark and the 22.5-mile mark.
Thanking all of the amazing runners, Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT, said:
âLondon Marathon is by far one of my favourite events of the year. Watching thousands of people run, walk, jog the streets of London all for causes close to their hearts is emotional and inspiring. I cannot thank Team Addenbrookes enough – you are all simply incredible and we are all super proud of you. I have been cheering on runners at this event for 22 years and every year it fills me with total admiration. The money you have raised for ACT will enable us to continue making our hospital great. THANK YOU SO MUCH.â
All 14 ACT runners completed Sundayâs marathon, but for one, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, it proved a real challenge after spraining her ankle on a water bottle at the start. She wasnât feeling great around the 13-mile mark but walked with her sister â and carried on despite not feeling great, completing the 26.2-mile challenge in just over six hours.
Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust also got a mention in live coverage of the event when Liza Putwain was interviewed by BBC Sport reporter, Jeanette Kwakye, on the day, interviewing her on her way round the course.
Liza (pictured left) wanted to run for Addenbrookeâs as a way of thanking staff who cared for her after she broke her neck in a freak accident when she was flipped from an inflatable object during an assault course. The mum-of-three had been running the course in memory of her husband Ian, who had died unexpectedly eight months earlier.
Describing how amazing it was to be part of the London Marathon, the film studies teacher from just outside Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk said:
“It sounds corny but when you are running it, it just feels like the whole city just loves each other in a world where thereâs so much negativity at the moment. It feels like you are a Premiership footballer because everybody is calling your name and wanting you to win. Itâs like they are on your team and cheering you on. I heard âLiza come on you can do itâ thousands and thousands of times on Sunday.â
She said the special, emotional moments for her were seeing her three children, Ella, 17, Sophie, 13, and Charlie 11, on the side lines with her sister and niece. Other memorable moments including spotting two signs â Remember Your Why â and one that, she says, is her own mantra â We Can Do Hard Things â which is not surprising when you hear Lizaâs own story.
“I say it all the time, to my kids particularly, and they say it back to me when Iâm struggling. Itâs like we say, we can do hard things. Life is tough but we can get through this, we can do it, so when I saw that sign I was like âoh my gosh, thatâs my mantra.â
Asked what she is planning next, Liza said she is thinking of applying for a ballot place in the 2026 London Marathon but deferring for a year. She is also planning to run a half marathon with her niece â and do a HYROX event too.
âI was talking to another runner and we were saying it was like childbirth. Itâs like, in that moment when you have just run the London Marathon, youâre like, âoh my gosh, that was horrific I will never do that again. And then you get the post marathon high and youâre like, âthis is amazingâ and before you know it you are signing up to do it again.â
Just some of the more personal reasons runners had for taking part include:
Will Hemsley, running for ACT to thank staff at Addenbrookeâs Hospital who cared for his close friend Josh, who sadly lost his life in 2016, aged just 18.
Liza Putwain, with her story above.
Alfie Lowe who fundraised for ACT last year after his friend Rhuey was diagnosed with Hodgkinâs Lymphoma, raising ÂŁ1,500 for the charity by hiking the Edale skyline. This year, he ran the London Marathon in memory of his friend Alex Paterson, who they lost last year â saying: âAlex was one of the most loyal, caring and genuine people I knew, and heâs left a giant hole in a lot of our hearts.â
Chris Loveday whose wife Carly underwent a live kidney transplant at Addenbrookeâs in 2010. Carly fell pregnant in 2011 and was seen at regular intervals by both the transplant team and specialists at the Rosie. Nearly 2 years after her transplant, Carly was admitted to the Rosie with complications and the family were told to expect the worst â and daughter Flo was born by emergency C-section, 7 weeks premature and with life-threatening complications. Flo was cared for initially on NICU for 2 weeks and remained in special care in the Rosie for a further 3 weeks. Thanking Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie for all their care, Chris shared the news that this year, daughter Flo becomes a teenager!
Sarah Barnard-Mitcham (pictured below) who was treated at Addenbrookeâs after being diagnosed with High-Grade DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) following a mammogram. Describing the care she received at Addenbrookeâs, Sarah said: âThroughout this process, the care Iâve received at the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s has been nothing short of exceptional.â The hospital is also supporting her sister, Stephanie, as she navigates Early Onset Alzheimerâs, having been diagnosed at just 47. Sarah added: âOver the years, Addenbrooke’s has supported not just my family but countless others in our community. Thatâs why Iâve chosen to fundraise for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.â
ACT thanked all this yearâs âamazing runnersâ who were: Alex Tarrant, Chris Loveday, Will Hemsley, Richard York-Weaving, Josh Scarlett, Michelle Meads, Liza Putwain, Jack Smith, Ben Smith, Alfie Lowe, Amy De Selincourt, Darren Godfrey, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, and Tanya Wagstaff.
All of the money raised from Sundayâs marathon will go to Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrookeâs Hospital and the Rosie. ACT funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
** If you would like to run for Team Addenbrookeâs in the 2026 London Marathon, sign up now for one of ACTâs charity places.
Runners who would like to apply for a place have until Monday 9 June at 9am. Anyone who is shortlisted will then be offered a telephone interview to talk about their fundraising plans and reasons for running â with TEAM ADDENBROOKES announced the week commencing Monday 23 June.
In some exciting news that we can share today â Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) has helped fund an advanced AI feature for a groundbreaking hand-held newborn eye screening device.
This innovation aims to further improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts â the leading cause of avoidable childhood blindness worldwide â when babies are examined in maternity wards shortly after their birth.
Although part of an ongoing clinical trial, early findings look positive.
As part of our work, ACT doesnât just fund new high-tech equipment for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie but also groundbreaking research like the NeoCam, which Dr Louise Allen, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Addenbrookeâs Hospital, has been working on.
ACT helped fund early development and testing of the first prototype device â known as CatCam â and later awarded an innovation grant so that the AI feature can be jointly funded with 42 Technology (42T), a product design and innovation consultancy, based near Cambridge, that is helping Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) to develop the AI feature.
Paul White, our Director of Communications and Impact, said: âOne of our remits as the official charity for Addenbrookeâs is to help fund researchers like Dr Allen with their early research work and clinical trials, often investing at a stage where others are not quite ready to come on board.â
âBy helping to fund innovative work like this in the early stages means we have the potential to help medical professionals like Dr Allen to make some quite innovative, groundbreaking discoveries within their field.â
To find out more about this exciting new development, read 42Tâs news release below.
NEWS RELEASE BY 42 TECHNOLOGY (42T)
42 Technology (42T) is helping Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) to develop an advanced AI feature for a groundbreaking hand-held newborn eye screening device. This innovation aims to further improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts â the leading cause of avoidable childhood blindness worldwide â when babies are examined in maternity wards shortly after their birth.
A prototype of the Neocam ophthalmic imaging device is currently being evaluated in a multi-centre clinical trial funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of the Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy (DIvO) study. This five-year study, involving 30 NHS maternity units across England, aims to determine whether Neocamâs digital imaging technology can improve the detection of congenital cataracts compared with the standard ophthalmoscope test, which uses a bright visible light.
Photo credit: 42 Technology
Although the final study outcomes are not due to be reported until 2027, the team has already noted some early positive findings. For example, several babies have been diagnosed with rare but significant visual conditions that were missed by the standard screening tests being done at the same time.
The new AI feature will enable Neocam to immediately assess the quality of images as they are taken, providing instant feedback to maternity staff on whether a captured image is clear enough for accurate evaluation. If an image does not meet the quality required, users can simply retake it. In future, the AI could also potentially be developed to alert the screening midwife or GP to a possible cataract or other eye abnormality but this is not the prime objective for the first AI model.
The software engineering team at 42T will use 46,000 de-identified images from the DIvO study to train the machine learning model. The aim being to integrate the new edge AI algorithms into the first commercially-available eye screening units so the device can analyse images using its existing processing capability â without added costs, needing any hardware redesign or impacting device performance.
Photo credit: 42 Technology
The AI development project is being funded jointly by 42T and with an innovation grant from Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust, which also helped fund early development and testing of the first prototype device called CatCam.
Dr Louise Allen, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Addenbrookeâs Hospital, Cambridge and Neocamâs inventor said: âThis novel eye screening technology has been designed to be an affordable, easy-to-use tool to improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts in babies. The new added AI feature will build on 42 Technologyâs previous design and development work, while ensuring the device is even easier for midwives and GPs to use when it is launched commercially.â
42T was appointed in 2018 to help support development of the Neocam prototype, from initial design to clinical trials. The company played a key role in developing the industrial design, user interface, system architecture, optics and electronics, as well as producing 60 prototype Neocam units for early field trials by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the UKâs leading property and business consultancies that took on the challenge of fundraising for a charity that was based miles away from some of its satellite offices has proved that the right cause and good communication can blow any challenge out of the water â after raising a staggering ÂŁ38,664.38 for the charity.
Brown&Co joined forces with Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT) in April last year, pledging to engage all their 300 employees and fundraise across every one of their 10 UK-based offices.
The firm chose to fundraise for ACT in memory of their colleague Danielle, or Dannii, Spauls, who was treated in Addenbrookeâs Hospital in Cambridge but sadly died following a short illness. As the official charity for Addenbrookeâs and the Rosie, ACT funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
Marketing Manager Georgia Dawson, who is based in the firmâs Norwich office, said it was a âunanimous decisionâ to fundraise for ACT after losing Dannii.
Brown&Co Partner, Andrew Fundell, said: âEach year, Brown&Co selects a charity to support. Following the loss of our colleague and friend, Danielle Spauls, after a short illness, we had no hesitation in choosing ACT in recognition of the incredible care and support the hospital provided to her and her family.â
âThough Dannii was based in our Norwich office, all 10 Brown&Co offices came together in her memory, dedicating the year to fundraising for ACT. From conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks to taking on the Oxford Half Marathon and a Norfolk coastal walk, our teams united in her honour to make a difference.â
Asked if she would recommend other firms, with satellite offices, to fundraise for ACT in this way, Georgia said: âAbsolutely, it is so worthwhile. One of our proudest moments was knowing that the money that we are fundraising is going towards funding innovation and specialist staff and specialist equipment to help people like Dannii and their families. So I would say regardless of where you are in the UK, if you wanted to become a corporate partner, I would say with ACT itâs made as easy as it can be.â
Talking about the initial work to get all the staff on board, Georgia said: âBringing all the offices together was a key focus. With our vast network, with offices across the UK and as far North as Humber, we wanted to ensure everyone felt connected. To do this, Natasha, ACTâs Corporate Partnerships Manager, set up a call with each office and made sure they all had tailored messaging and a particular focus point to drive engagement and that massively helped to not only get employees on board but also help donations come in from the local communities.â
âAs well as honouring a colleague, Natasha really stressed the importance of the research that is carried out at Addenbrookeâs – and that it will benefit beyond the Eastern region to hospitals across the whole of the UK.â
âShe also came along to our quiz at our Norwich office that was our biggest fundraising event, raising a total of ÂŁ7,000, and brought a letter with her written by one of the surgeons that had cared for Dannii, which was extremely moving. It was that extra touch that really helped to engage employees and also our clients as well.â
After 12 months of fundraising, Brown&Co presented a cheque for ÂŁ38,664.38to Natasha Robertson at their head office in Norwich.
Speaking at the event, Natasha said: âWe are so grateful for all the hard work of each and every Brown&Co employee who threw themselves into fundraising with such passion, despite some of them never having heard of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, and Addenbrookeâs Hospital. The fact that all offices came together to raise such an impressive figure shows the high esteem that Addenbrookeâs is held in and that the work it does extends beyond the region both nationally and globally.â
Georgia said fundraising across the satellite offices had brought staff closer – describing this yearâs efforts as âlarger and more collaborative than ever before.ââ
Some of the events included the Lincoln office completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks; the Norfolk offices completing a 12.5 mile coastal walk from Cromer to Cley next the Sea; the St Neots office undertaking a 24-mile bike ride from their offices to the Astra Zeneca hub on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus; and the Banbury office completing the Oxford Half Marathon. In addition to this, the Humber office hosted a clay pigeon shooting afternoon and across the board there were also quiz nights, raffle sweeps, sweepstakes, dress down days and cake sales.
BEATING the drum â quite literally – at the official launch of this yearâs 19th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival were all the teams behind the return of this yearâs âbigger and betterâ 2025 event.
Celebrating at the festivalâs official launch at the UK head office were staff from Illumina, Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust – whose event is raising money for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) – organisers NewWave Events and a team from CCRH.
This yearâs festival, which takes place on the River Cam at Fen Ditton on Saturday 13 September, falls during ACTâs 30th birthday year â with a new fundraising target of ÂŁ50,000 and celebrations planned to make it the âbiggest and best year yet!â Cambridge Radio will also be reporting live from the riverbank on the day.
Mark Robinson, VP and GM, UK and Ireland, Illumina said: âIllumina is delighted to once again join forces with ACT to support the 2025 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. Last year, this fun-filled event saw an incredible amount of money raised for the new Cancer Research Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Itâs a great opportunity to give something back to the communities in which we live and work and we canât wait to smash it again this year!â
Welcoming Illumina back on board, Natasha Robertson, ACTâs Corporate Partnerships Manager, said: âWe are absolutely delighted to have Illumina as the sponsor of this yearâs Dragon Boat Festival for the second year running.â
âThis year marks the 19th year of the festival as well as our 30th birthday â so we are looking forward to making it our biggest and best yet. Last year we raised a staggering ÂŁ37,000 with 41 teams competing and this year we are looking to raise even more money for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.â
Celebrating what is a much-anticipated event in the Cambridge calendar, Natasha added: âLast yearâs event was so much fun with some amazing fancy dress costumes so we are excited to see what the teams will pull out of the bag this year and with more teams competing and looking to raise even more money for the new cancer hospital itâs just going to add to the atmosphere on the day.â
Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said they were âsuper excitedâ to have Illumina back as official sponsors. âWith their support, and collaboration with the team from ACT, weâre hoping to have a sell-out event raising a record amount for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. Itâs such a fantastic day, so donât hesitate to get involved and enter your teams before weâre sold out!â
All the money raised by teams will go towards building the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH). The new hospital is to be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029 and will be the first specialist cancer hospital for the East of England. It will bring together clinical and research expertise under one roof â allowing clinicians to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.
Reminding people of the importance of the hospital, Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse and Co-production Lead for CCRH, said: âI donât think there is anyone who hasnât been affected by cancer, either by experiencing your own diagnosis or seeing someone you love or know go through it. Fundraising is so important for this project, as the money raised will go directly into building a hospital that will improve the experience of patients and support research breakthroughs to treat cancer earlier with personalised medicine. Even small donations will make a big difference when added together.â
This year, Elaine â whose role is to ensure patients and both clinical and research staff are involved in the design of the new hospital â will compete for the second year running, adding: âWe are thrilled to be competing in our second Dragon Boat Race and being part of a brilliant day that raises awareness of the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project.â
The festival takes place on the River Cam at Fen Ditton with teams of 10-15 paddling 30ft boats up the river with a drummer at the front beating time and a helm at the tail.
Races start at 10am, with a prize ceremony at the end of the day. Bankside entertainment and refreshments include traditional lion dance performances. There are also funfair style rides on the day, with sponsors Illumina hosting family-friendly, fun activities including strawberry DNA extraction.
Each team completes three heats, with the 12 fastest teams going through to the semis. Three semi-final winners and the fastest runner-up go through to the final. Each boat seats up to 10 paddlers and 1 drummer. The racecourse is a 200m straight course with each race lasting anywhere between 55 and 90 seconds, with times affected by water flow and weather conditions.
Trophies are awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place as well as to the highest placed mixed crew (minimum of five female paddlers), best dressed crew and top charity fundraiser. Medals also go to the top three crews and the highest placed mixed crew.
Lucy, from NewWave Events, said: âThe Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is such a unique opportunity for both seasoned and new teams to experience the thrill of racing, with full equipment and guidance provided, making it accessible for everyone. We have a full day of activities planned along the riverbank to keep teams and spectators entertained, from food stalls and entertainment to fantastic prizes, including a special mini golf experience with bubbly and tear and share pizzas for the top fundraisers courtesy of The Tivoli in Cambridge. Itâs a day of community spirit, friendly competition, and supporting ACTâs invaluable work with a new fundraising target of ÂŁ50,000!â
Local property firm Cheffins is marking its 200-year anniversary by pledging ÂŁ200,000 to charity through a combination of fundraising events and donations. The majority of the funds will go towards the Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital through Addenbrookeâs Charitable Trust (ACT). Cheffins aims to raise a minimum of ÂŁ100,000 for the hospital, which will provide a dedicated playroom for children undergoing treatment. This initiative aligns with Cheffins’ commitment to supporting mental health services for future generations in the region.
Established in Saffron Walden in 1825, Cheffins has grown to become one of the best know professional services firms in the region, specialising in property, land, fine arts and farm machinery sales. Like ACT, Cheffins is now focusing on the future while committing to the local community and supporting vital services throughout the region.
Bill King, Chairman of Cheffins, expressed his excitement about the fundraising efforts: âWe are thrilled to announce that we are aiming to give this significant amount of money for such an important cause and will be hosting a series of wonderful fundraising events throughout the year, while also match funding all of the charitable efforts of our staff. We are now looking to build a strong foundation for the future of Cheffins as well as the next generations of the people of Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area. We are celebrating with purpose and are proving our commitment to the community with our charitable efforts this yearâ.
The Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital will be a pioneering, purpose-built hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It will transform healthcare and have a life-changing impact on the 1.5 million children in the East of England, the only region in the UK without a dedicated childrenâs hospital. The hospital will be the first of its kind, combining both physical and mental health services.
ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, shared her pride in partnering with Cheffins:
âWe couldnât be prouder to be partnering with Cheffins, in the year of their 200th anniversary and ACTâs 30th birthday, to raise money for the new Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital. Their passion and commitment to supporting the mental health of young people in our region, and this new hospitalâs goal of integrating physical and mental health together, in one hospital for the first time, makes this a fantastic partnership. This new hospital will save and change the lives of countless children and young people â but that can only happen with the help of supporters like Cheffins, and their wonderful colleagues and customersâ.
Cheffins have lots of exciting events and plans for the year ahead to raise money as well as awareness of the Cambridge Childrenâs Hospital and ACT. Weâre excited to see what they get up and canât wait to share the news in the future that theyâve smashed their fundraising target.
A minimum of ÂŁ20,000 is also being donated to the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation to support vital funds for young people’s mental health and wellbeing projects in the communities local to Cheffins. The remaining ÂŁ80,000 raised and gifted will be donated to various other charities nationwide.
