Member Article

Charity hits target with life-saving equipment

A TEESSIDE charity has reached another milestone, raising funds to help buy two pieces of life-saving equipment thanks to the help of music.

Music v Cancer, a charity which specialises in raising the awareness of cancers and in particular bowel cancer, has helped to buy two video cystoscopes for the University Hospital of North Tees costing £37,000.

The machines can not only detect and give specialists a clear view of the early stages of bladder cancer but can also enable surgeons to treat patients and carry out small procedures.

Tony Larkin, Founder of Music v Cancer, said: “It’s brilliant to see the results of our fundraising making a difference. “Cutting-edge technology like this will ensure that patients have the best possible treatment and that symptoms can be detected quickly and acted upon during the early stages.”

The charity has so far raised £142,000 for cancer initiatives since it was set up in October 2010 and previously presented The University Hospital of Hartlepool with an endo-rectal ultrasound machine back in 2012. The trust matched funded the amount raised by Music v Cancer for the equipment which totalled £63,000.

Medical director at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust David Emerton said: “This is an excellent initiative which means we are constantly giving our patients the best possible treatment.

“Our hospitals all contain the essential equipment for treating our patients but through donations like this we can purchase machinery which is at the forefront of technology.”

Alongside Music v Cancer, donations from Support Your Bowel and funding from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust helped to purchase the equipment which will specifically detect and treat bladder cancer.

Anil Agarwal, consultant colorectal surgeon and founder of the Support Your Bowel Charity, said: “The equipment we were using before had much more rigid and uncomfortable scopes whereas now we can provide our patients with much more comfort.

“The camera attached to the scopes is also in high definition meaning we have a much clearer view of the examination area and can also treat patients without the need to put them under a general anaesthetic.

“’I would like to thank the many patients and relatives and the local people for generously donating to the charities, it has all added to enable us to buy the equipment for the trust.”

Money was raised through Music v Cancer’s regular Weekender gigs and merchandise auctions. Recent names to support the charity have been the Arctic Monkeys, Gary Barlow and Jessie J, while Jools Holland is the official patron.

The charity will be celebrating its 17th and 18th gigs with its upcoming Weekender taking place on 3 and 4 October where it will welcome Turin Brakes to the stage.

Tony Larkin added: “Turin Brakes is one of our most high profile acts and we cannot wait to welcome them to the Grand Hotel Hartlepool. Tickets are selling out fast and people need to act quickly if they want to attend.

The weekender will also feature Jon Allen, Jake Morley, Z-Star, Kal Lavelle, Antonio Lulic, John Parker, Jimmy Docherty and Paul Liddell.

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