Chemotherapy is being brought closer to home for hundreds of cancer patients across Lincolnshire.
The Hope for Tomorrow charity provided its first Mobile Chemotherapy Unit to the NHS in Gloucestershire in 2007.
A unit called Elaine has been donated to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust which will begin visiting Grantham, Spalding, Louth and Skegness offering treatments from early next year.
The service aims to drastically reduce the stress of driving for appointments for chemotherapy at the Boston or Lincoln oncology centres.
The unit can treat up to 20 patients a day, potentially delivering around 2,000 treatments a year.
Meanwhile, on December 1, Hope for Tomorrow launches its first Chemotherapy in the Community campaign to raise the £12,000 annual running costs to keep each of its MCU on the road, and to donate more MCUs to more NHS trusts across the UK.
Spokesman Rosa Woodley said: “The Lincolnshire Mobile Chemotherapy Unit will be named ‘Elaine’ after a local lady Elaine Anyan PIC who battled with cancer.
“Elaine was first diagnosed in 2005 with a very rare form of the disease and had to undergo a series of operations as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
“There were many long journeys involved for appointments, particularly for the chemotherapy, which was a 45-mile round trip to Lincoln County Hospital.
“A mobile unit would have saved a lot of pain and suffering at what was an already stressful time for her and her family.
“Elaine sadly passed away in November 2010 at the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, five years after first being diagnosed.”
People can show their support by organising a fund-raising event, or simply spreading the word about the charity.
For more information visit www.hopefortomorrow.org.uk
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