Nationwide North-east backs campaign for Teenage Cancer Trust unit in Newcastle

04/11/08

Nationwide is the latest business to lend its support to The Toma Fund and Teenage Cancer Trust, it was announced today.

Eighteen of the building society’s branches in the North East will be helping the charity with its mission to raise £1million to build a new Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the RVI in Newcastle, which will care for teenagers with cancer from across the North East.

Special Toma Fund badges will be on sale throughout the branches, and employees have already raised over £ 2,300 for the charity by arranging events such as Coast to Coast Cycle ride, raffles and charity evenings.

Jeff Watson, area director at Nationwide Building Society said: “We’re delighted to support The Toma Fund and hope our branches can raise as much money as possible for the new Teenage Cancer Trust unit. It will make a real difference to the lives of teenagers with cancer in the North East.”

The Toma Fund was set up in memory of Jordan Thompson, a young cancer patient from West Denton who sadly passed away last year. Despite hopes for a full recovery, Jordan died in September 2007, aged just 15. Earlier this year his family launched a fund in his name – The Jordan David Thompson Memorial Fund For Teenage Cancer Trust North East (The Toma Fund). The Toma Fund is raising money for the new Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Newcastle’s RVI hospital. The state-of-the-art six-bed unit will replace the existing facility which is where Jordan spent much of his time during his treatment.

Andrea Thompson, Jordan’s Mum who set up The Toma Fund added: “It’s fantastic to have a big business like Nationwide on board. The branches have really got behind our campaign. We need to raise £1million to be able to build the Teenage Cancer Trust unit. We’re well on our way but we’re not quite there yet, so we need all the support we can gather!”

Teenage Cancer Trust is raising funds to build the new unit at the RVI to treat young people with cancer across the North East of England. Expected to open in late 2009, the unit will treat young people with cancer from towns across the North East including Newcastle, Cumbria, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. It will incorporate all the usual features of a Teenage Cancer Trust unit – social space, chill-out facilities, game consoles, computers, internet access, large plasma screens and Sky TV – all of which will keep the patients occupied during long stays in hospital. The star attraction will be a roof top garden with panoramic views across the city. Patients can enjoy the view over the garden or spend time outside.

The new unit will replace the original 6-bed TCT ward at the RVI which was opened in October 1997 by Sarah, Duchess of York, Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. The unit will cost TCT £1.9m, £1m of which needs to be raised locally.