Who are we?
We are a voluntary team, founded originally in 2004 and, since 2006, working as an independent, registered charity (No 1116935) with a Committee, comprising principally of prostate cancer patients, their families & friends and members of the University Hospitals of Leicester, Urological Faculty.
We serve the local cancer care network in Leicestershire, Rutland & Northamptonshire.
Our goals?
To raise funds to assist local Hospitals and clinics, in the acquisition of innovative, new equipment and facilities for projects undertaken specifically to advance the range and nature of treatments & care, available for prostate cancer sufferers. We are particularly keen to fund minimally-invasive treatments not yet routinely available in this country.
To raise public awareness of the initial symptoms, the nature and the treatment of prostate cancer, particularly within “at risk” groups (i.e. men over 45).
To develop and maintain an independent, local, support network for sufferers, which augments and complements the professional services offered by local hospitals and clinics. This comprises professional nursing staff combined with a team of hospital-trained, volunteer counsellors.
In due course, to establish a dedicated centre of excellence, specifically for the care and treatment of local prostate cancer patients .
What our funds are used for?
Our funds go towards the purchase of innovative equipment for hospitals and clinics within our area, the provision of dedicated patient support staff and to our campaign to educate and raise awareness about the disease. We have minimal administrative costs and all our helpers are unpaid volunteers. Every penny we raise is aimed at helping local prostate cancer patients.
Our initial aim was to raise £100,000 in our first year. This was to be used to purchase innovative, new equipment to help the Dept of Urology at LGH. This led to our first purchase, which was an Ultra Sound guidance system for Prostate Cryotherapy. This allowed the Unit to offer a new form of minimally invasive treatment, which could complement traditional surgery and reduce patient trauma. This treatment, which is appropriate for a limited group of patients, is reasonably commonplace in USA but is not yet widely available in UK. We met our financial target in June 2005 and the equipment is now in regular use, saving the lives of suitable patients. In September 2005 we were able to purchase a Trans-rectal Ultrasound Scanner to allow the unit to assess more patients, more quickly, in the initial stages of cancer.
To date we have raised nearly £250,000 and, with public help, we continue to increase the rate at which we are acquiring funds.
Our current aims include the wish to fund more, new, minimally-invasive treatments which will not be immediately forthcoming via limited NHS budgets. This will improve patient options, reduce the time needed for procedures and minimise the overall impacts of treatment on patients. We also hope to extend the dedicated care and support facilities available to patients. Ultimately our aim is to support all this, through the establishment of a dedicated centre of excellence, built and equipped specifically for the care and treatment of local prostate cancer patients.
Our History and Achievements
The initial Group was founded in 2004, when several grateful patients sought to make a contribution to the hospital unit which had served them so well. Under the advice and guidance of members of the Dept of Urology at Leicester General Hospital, they set about the task of raising funds to purchase innovative Cryo Surgery equipment, which could help future patients. As the months went by and their experience and the confidence grew, the ambitions were broadened to address the need to raise local awareness of prostate cancer. The name of the appeal was accordingly changed to PROSTaid. This was to become established as an independent, registered charity in November 2006. Future goals are to add a broader network of fund raisers and to extend the local support group for patients and their families.
In our first 2 years of operation, we raised over £200,000. This money was raised directly through the efforts of our committee members and supporters.
Money has been raised in many different ways and included specific events such as raffles and sponsored events like walks, marathons, parachute jumps, dinners, cycle rides, fishing matches, bowls matches and golf tournaments. We have run several musical events including jazz, blues and rock & roll and even had one held for us in China! We are grateful to have received considerable help from organisations like local churches, Masonic Lodges, Rotary & Lions Clubs, Bowls Clubs, Golf Clubs and Rugby Clubs and we have also attracted substantial donations from local charitable trusts. Many local businesses have also helped us by providing donations and goods and services at no or minimal charge.
We are seeking to raise a further £250,000 in 2007/8 and with your help, we will achieve it – come and join us!
Our Supporters
We would like to thank the many individuals, companies and organisations who have helped us in recent months.
These include;
Asda • Blaby Lions •
Birdhouse Design •
Keith Barwell Esq. •
Caged Fish Web Design •
EV Technology •
The Everard Foundation and Everards Brewery Ltd •
f22Design •
Flexpress •
George Ward Charitable Foundation • Harborough Mail •
Hinckley Times •
Inkrite •
The Leicester Mercury
Masonic Lodges in Leicestershire and Northants • Meridian Maps @ johnewright •
Midland Co-operative Society Ltd • The Musician Pub & Venue •
Northampton Saints RFC •
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •
Perspektiv
Rotary Clubs of District 1070 •
Revolution
