Nearly 200 people who attended the John Addenbrooke Lecture on 24 February heard the exciting news that more than £1.25 million has been raised and pledged towards the £1.5 million fundraising target to purchase a new surgical robot for Addenbrooke’s.
The annual event, hosted by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), heard from leading Addenbrooke’s surgeons Professor Grant Stewart and Mr Siong-Seng Liau, who shared their experiences of the benefits of robotic surgery and how it could transform care for thousands of patients. Click here to view a recording of the lecture.
Dr Ashley Shaw, Medical Director at Cambridge University Hospitals, also shared his expert perspective on how innovation, such as robotic surgery, will help our much-loved hospital recover at a critical time for the NHS.
The running total for the appeal currently stands at £1.25 million. ACT CEO Shelly Thake and CUH Medical Ashley Shaw made an impassioned appeal on the night for those attending to help close that gap as quickly as possible. Nearly £10,000 was raised on the evening for the robot from attendees.
The charity is now calling on the public to help them close the gap and raise the remaining £250,000 as soon as possible.
Shelly Thake said: “We hope the event shone a light on the need for another surgical robot and reinforced our call to the wider public to help us smash our target very soon.
“We are so grateful to Grant, Siong and Ashley, along with many others, for giving their time and support to this appeal. It was a fantastic lecture evening – even though it had to be held virtually because of Covid considerations – and we have posted the video online for those who want to view it again or for the first time.
“It is incredible that we have raised such a substantial amount for this appeal in under a year. It highlights the strength of support for the NHS and Addenbrooke’s. It also shows that people understand why having an additional robot at Addenbrooke’s can make such a big difference.”
The evening’s events were introduced by Dame Mary Archer DBE by video link and Shelly Thake hosted the panel who were broadcast live from the John Addenbrooke Library at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
See campaign updates and a video of the evening’s events at www.helpyourhospital.co.uk/robot.
View Q and A’s from the event here.
As well as individual donations, fundraisers are contributing significant sums through events such as Step for Addenbrooke’s, the Cambridge Half Marathon and other ultra-challenge events over the coming months.
Shelly Thake added: “We have been bowled over by the support and donations for this Surgical Robot appeal. It gives us massive hope that people are willing to help Addenbrooke’s survive and thrive in a challenging climate. And it gives us strong optimism that our future campaigns for the Cambridge Cancer Hospital and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital will be equally well supported and funded.”