Press release
3 May 2021
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) has launched its new ‘1,000 challenge’, encouraging the public to fundraise £1,000, either individually or as a group, towards its £1.5m appeal to buy a new surgical robot for the hospital.
Robot-assisted surgery is a form of keyhole surgery involving small incisions. The surgeon operates on the patient by controlling a computer-enhanced robot, mimicking the surgeon’s hands and wrist movements, and allowing absolute precision. For patients, this means smaller incisions, faster healing and recovery times, and that patients can be discharged from hospital within a matter of days, not weeks.
However, Addenbrooke’s currently only has one robot which is dedicated to treat kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer patients. Funds raised by the 1,000 Challenge will help fund another surgical robot, revolutionising patient care across six specialties in the hospital and improving outcomes for over 1,500 additional patients every year.
The 1,000 Challenge asks you to come up with something you can do 1,000 times to raise £1,000. It could be running or cycling 1,000km, walking 1,000 steps in your lunch hour for a month, baking and selling 1,000 cupcakes, gaming for 1,000 Minecraft days, or even giving up something for 1,000 hours. Whatever your 1,000 Challenge, the charity needs your support.
Anybody who pays in fundraising of £1,000 or more before 31 October 2021 will have an opportunity to dedicate a name to be displayed on the Robot Appeal 1,000 Challenge web page.
Emily Willdigg, ACT’s Community Relationships Lead, said: “It costs approximately £1,000 per patient to provide robot-assisted surgery at Addenbrooke’s. By getting together with colleagues, friends and family and supporting our 1,000 Challenge, you will be enabling one person to have even better surgery.”
The challenge is also a great way for businesses to get involved with their teams in making Addenbrooke’s even better for patients, especially if they can match fund the money raised by their staff. James Stevens, Cambridge Commodities CEO, said: “We have supported Addenbrooke’s for many years and we are not about to stop now! Robotic surgery has so many positives for patients undergoing surgery, and we at Cambridge Commodities will definitely be trying our best to help Addenbrooke’s achieve its goal.”
Will you take the Addenbrooke’s 1,000 Challenge, raise £1,000 to help buy the hospital a surgical robot and improve the outcome and recovery from surgery for thousands of patients?
Visit our website to find out more.
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