Plans to double the size of the Clinical Trials Facility at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) received a big boost, thanks to a significant grant of £101,000 from the Randal Charitable Foundation. Together with the support of other kind donations, the Hope Against Cancer charity, which is fundraising for this ambitious project, has now reached the £1 million mark.
Since the donation in 2019, the Leicestershire and Rutland charity has funded the completion of the first phase of construction, to renovate and equip a research support space in an existing University of Leicester building at the hospital. Work is now underway on the second phase of the project at the Hope Clinical Trials Facility, which will improve and expand the facilities for patients, so more people can access cancer research trials.
With a passion for giving back, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE founded the Randal Charitable Foundation in 2017. The Loughborough-based foundation has a clear, unwavering vision to save lives, help the socially disadvantaged and significantly improve the quality of life for those in need in the UK and around the world.
Its focus is to support issues connected to health, disability, mental health, poverty, addiction, education and social disadvantage. The Trustees aspire to save and improve the quality of life of over one million people globally. So far, The Foundation has supported 10 countries, 20 global and 23 UK-based projects.
After opening in 2012, the Hope Clinical Trials Facility has been one of the country’s leading centres for cancer trials over the last few years. The Hope Clinical Trials Facility is based at the LRI and is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, the University of Leicester and Hope Against Cancer. It offers local people with cancer the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and is one of only a few outside of London where people can take part in research to help develop new cancer drug treatments. The Hope Research Nurse works at the facility, caring for patients taking part in clinical trials.
Dr Kotecha, Founder Trustee and Chairman for the Randal Charitable Foundation, said: “My Foundation works with UK based organisations to save lives and significantly improve people’s quality of life, which is why we are very proud to support the important work of Hope Against Cancer.
“The cutting-edge research of the Hope Clinical Trials Facility will enable more people than ever to survive cancer and is the next step in making sure the number of people recovering continues to rise.”
Nigel Rose, Chief Executive of Hope Against Cancer, added: "We at Hope Against Cancer were absolutely overwhelmed and delighted to be awarded a substantial grant from the Randal Charitable Foundation.
“The grant is helping to transform cancer research facilities at the Hope Clinic Trials Facility, where we are doubling the size of the current facility. The Randal Charitable Foundation's investment in this ambitious project will ensure we are able to offer more patients access to potentially life-saving new treatments, having a positive impact on the lives of local cancer patients now and into the future."
Professor Anne Thomas, clinical lead for the Hope Clinical Trials Facility at Leicester’s Hospitals, and Professor of Oncology at the University of Leicester, said: “We are indebted to the trustees and Hope fundraisers like the Randal Charitable Foundation who have done such a fantastic job with the appeal. The new Hope Centre will allow more patients to benefit from novel and innovative research to help conquer this awful disease.”
You can add your fundraising power to the Hope For Life Appeal by visiting Hope’s social media pages here: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or donate through the Hope for Life Appeal website: https://www.hopeforlife.charity/index.html
You can find out more about The Randal Charitable Foundation through their website: www.randalfoundation.org.uk
Ends
Rachael Dowling, head of research communications
rachael.dowling@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Issued by the Randal Charitable Foundation and Hope Against Cancer
