THE world's first mobile chemotherapy unit which has provided a life-line to cancer patients across Gloucestershire is fundraising again as it enters its 10th year.

The success of the facility was seen during an open day in Cirencester where law company Harrison Clark Rickerbys, which has a branch in Worcester, was able to see the fruits of its own fundraising.

The firm, whose charitable trust donates money to good causes across the three counties each year, bought the unit a special chemotherapy chair for £1,399 in 2014. It features a dual control lift which helps both patients and staff during treatment.

The chemotherapy unit, known as Helen, was established by the charity Hope for Tomorrow. The unit brings cancer treatment close to patients’ homes, cutting travelling and waiting times and reducing the stress of hospital treatments. Run jointly by the charity and the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it is based at Cheltenham Oncology Unit and travels to the Forest of Dean, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Cirencester each week.

Charity Founder Christine Mills said: “All of us at Hope for Tomorrow are very happy and proud that Helen is helping to reduce stressful travel for Gloucestershire cancer patients for four days every week. We’d like to thank all the funders, supporters and volunteers who have gone the extra mile for us to make it possible, and all those who support us to bring cancer treatment closer to home here and across the UK, now and in the future.”

Hope for Tomorrow is already raising money for a replacement unit for Gloucestershire. They have collected £60,000 towards their £247,500 total, and would like to raise their total in time to launch it next year, 10 years on from Helen’s launch.

Charity Founder Christine Mills said: “All of us at Hope for Tomorrow are very happy and proud that Helen is helping to reduce stressful travel for Gloucestershire cancer patients for four days every week. We’d like to thank all the funders, supporters and volunteers who have gone the extra mile for us to make it possible, and all those who support us to bring cancer treatment closer to home here and across the UK, now and in the future.”

Harrison Clark Rickerbys has 400 staff and partners based at offices in Cheltenham, the Wye Valley, Hereford, Worcester, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, who provide a complete spectrum of legal services to both business and private clients, regionally and nationwide. The firm also has a number of highly successful teams specialising in individual market sectors, including health and social care, education, agricultural and rural affairs, defence, security and the forces, and construction.

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Image: Charlotte Thornton-Smith (seated) and Clemency Rubinstein from Hope for Tomorrow

To find out more please contact: Rachel Evans 07970 101451 revans@hcrlaw.com

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About Harrison Clark Rickerbys

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Harrison Clark Rickerbys provides a complete spectrum of City-quality legal services to business and private clients across the South and West Midlands, Thames Valley and Wye Valley corridors and southwest of England.

Following the merger in 2011 of Harrison Clark and Shawcross Solicitors, Harrison Clark Rickerbys was formed in 2013 by the further merger with long established regional law firm, Rickerbys LLP. In June 2014 the company also merged with K&M Family Law Solutions, and in May 2015 the firm partnered with fisheries and water law experts, Simon Jackson Solicitors.

The firm has a total of 400 staff and partners operating out of offices in Worcester, Cheltenham, the Wye Valley, Hereford, the Thames Valley and Birmingham, and by appointment in central London, and a turnover of c£24m.