A Bradford cancer charity appeal aiming to raise £1.1million to build a new centre has raised well over half the cash within ten months of its launch. Rebecca Wright took a virtual tour around the Bradford Cancer Support's past, present and vision for the future.
Clusters of nodding daisies litter the lawn outside the Farm - the plot of land and existing building which within the year will become the new Bradford Cancer Support centre.
It is appropriate that the grass is strewn with the little white flowers because, after all, it is the Daisy Appeal that has so far raised a whopping £782,500 towards the state-of-the-art centre based within the grounds of Bradford Royal Infirmary.
And the future is looking bright for the appeal, which has not only been decided as charity of year for Bradford Chamber of Commerce, but is also one of the two charities set to benefit from the new Lord Mayor's Appeal.
Alongside the Ear Trust's Listening for Life Appeal, Councillor Robin Owens, who was sworn into office last week, has chosen to benefit the Daisy Appeal.
The announcement is the icing on the cake for BCS which, thanks to a massive effort by fundraisers, patrons and supporters hopes to be moving from its leased base at Daisy Bank off Duckworth Lane to the new development at Smith Lane early next year.
At the moment the building used by BCS is too small to house the charity's essential benefits service, which helps cancer patients and their families claim the money that they are entitled to.
But charity director Linda Howard knows it will have been worth the wait when the new centre opens.
Not only will all services offered by BCS be housed under one roof, but facilities will also be state-of-the-art.
An existing building on the Smith Lane site will be converted into sections which will provide space for the complimentary therapies and counselling services provided by BCS. And a new extension will provide a communal drop-in area, a group room and an art room.
At the moment BCS only has one room suitable for all three uses, which is usually booked out by one activity or another.
But the central area will separate booked activities from impromptu visits. And the two rooms will free up time and space for more activities and sessions.
"This central area is something that we have been missing in our present premises, it's somewhere that someone can come in have a cup of coffee, speak to a volunteer and be able to come in without having to pre-arrange it.
"The group room and an art room means activities like tai chi, body and mind, and support groups can happen at the same time as a meeting.
"We will be able to have a much more flexible timetable," Linda said.
A small kitchen will allow small group sessions to take place looking at issues such as cooking for one and nutritional advice.
One-to-one meeting rooms and staff areas will also be incorporated.
And although the first shovel of earth is yet to be moved on the new site, Linda said she hoped the swift pace of fundraising and progress would continue.
"We are going out shortly with letters for people to express interest in doing the building for us, we hope the building will take eight or nine months, so optimistically we hope to be in early next year," she said.
She said the support of the Lord Mayor's Appeal and the Chamber, as well as the dedication from people living and working in Bradford, was a real boost to the effort.
"It's fantastic. We are really looking forward to working with the Lord Mayor's appeal and we will look forward to working with the other charity to make it one of the most successful appeals, it's really exciting.
"And as for the Chamber, it's really the icing, its really fantastic," she said.
In the past year dozens of Bradford businesses have been lining up to help the Daisy Appeal reach its target. Sovereign Health Care is one such business. The not-for-profit organisation has seen BCS grow from a tiny project based in Little Germany, in premises owned by the health-plan group, to the bustling enterprise seen today.
Chief executive David Lewis said much of BCS's success was down to its handling of campaigns, cash and cancer patients.
"They have to run it as a business and they have managed to bridge the gap between charity and business because in fact today charities are businesses," he said.
And Mr Lewis said he thought it was only right that businesses in Bradford showed their support for district-based charities.
"There is less cash to go around, but businesses in Bradford should look locally first of all I think," he said.
Daisy Appeal fundraising manager Maureen Burns was keen to remind supporters and users to keep raising the cash.
"We have done all sorts of things to raise money, a vast range of things, people have been really inventive and incredibly supportive. Since last year we have supported 3,650 people at BCS and each and every one of them has helped play their part in making the appeal successful to date - so not much further to go," she said.
For more information about BCS and the Daisy Appeal visit www.bradfordcancersupport.org.uk or telephone (01274) 776688.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article