Shooting Star Cancer Unit celebrates its 20th anniversary
The Shooting Star Unit is celebrating its 20th anniversary since £2.5 million of funding was generated to create the Wrexham service.
In 1997, an appeal was launched by the then Shooting Star Appeal after staff in Wrexham Maelor Hospital asked the local community to come together to improve care for patients with cancer. The North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre had recently opened in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, and a ward had been put aside in Ysbyty Gwynedd for cancer patients to receive treatment, meaning those in Wrexham and Flintshire had a long way to travel for treatment.
By 2002, more than £2.5 million had been raised by the newly-formed charity and the local community, and building work began.
On 2nd February, 2004, the Unit opened and included a day unit for 12 patients to receive chemotherapy and immunotherapy, an outpatient clinic with four suites and a women’s unit with four suites.
David Parry, Chair of Shooting Star Cancer Support, said at the event: “I certainly remember the commencement of the trust of our charity and I was touched to be asked to be a part of it.
“None of this would have happened without some of the people in the room today, we would not have been able to achieve what we do, and what we do going forward.
“It has been an extraordinary thing, speaking for our Board, we want to do a massive vote of thanks to all the staff who worked here in the past, and who work here now in the future, and to all the departments within the Health Board who support us.”
More than 12,500 patients in North Wales require chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatment, meaning the much-needed service is busier than ever.
The Shooting Star Unit continues to develop every day thanks to the dedicated staff, volunteers and charities that offer support.
To support the Shooting Star Unit, please visit https://shootingstarcancersupport.co.uk/
