NZCT supports new Canterbury Cancer Centre with a $400K grant

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded a major grant of $400,000 to the Canterbury Cancer Centre’s capital project.

Heather Locke, Fundraising Manager for the Cancer Society’s Canterbury-West Coast Division, says:

“Cancer is something that affects one in three people at some stage in their life and this means almost everyone has a close family member, friend, or workmate affected.

“This significant contribution from NZCT towards our capital project, the new Canterbury Cancer Centre, will have a positive impact on thousands of people from across the South Island Te Wai Pounamu in the future.

“The new cancer centre in Christchurch will be a place of support for people with breast cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, leukaemia, and many other forms of cancer. In addition to providing accommodation and other support services, the new centre will be a base from which we fund vital cancer research and cancer prevention programmes.

“Sadly, our former home and patient accommodation facility, Davidson House, was a casualty of the Canterbury earthquakes. Since then, we have continued to support people from around the Canterbury-West Coast region from temporary offices and provided free accommodation for thousands of South Islanders with cancer in two re-purposed motels, Daffodil House and Daffodil Lodge. The new centre will enable all of our services to be co-located in a single, purpose-built facility.

“The new centre will contain fifty modern, spacious rooms for patients from all over the South Island who need to stay in Christchurch to access cancer treatment (sometimes for up to six weeks at a time). Cancer patients and their families will be able to go to the centre to access a range of free, wrap-around cancer support services tailored to their individual needs, including not only emotional support and counselling, but also financial and practical help as they navigate their cancer journey.

“Cancer diagnoses are expected to double in the next decade and we expect our occupancy to reflect that increase.

“The new centre will be a collaboration hub not only for the Cancer Society, but also provide a base for other cancer charities and health providers in which to work, streamline services, and create a one-stop-shop for anyone needing assistance or information.”

NZCT National Grants Manager, Ben Hodges says “Having so much collaboration under the one roof is going to make a huge difference to hundreds of families experiencing cancer.

“Patients and whānau, rather than the system itself, will be at the centre of things, and this is to be commended.

“NZCT is delighted that our partnership with hospitality venues across Canterbury has enabled us to get behind the facility in such a big way.”

For more information on the new Canterbury Cancer Centre, go to www.moreprecious.co.nz