Help raise £250,000 for the Island’s new chemotherapy unit

A novel and colourful fund raising project has been devised to help generate the £250,000 needed for a special chemotherapy unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.

People are being asked to individually buy part of a large mosaic picture of medicinal and healing plants for as little as £2, and leave a permanent record of their contribution towards the appeal.

A sum of £2 will buy a coloured square in the mosaic, which is being assembled over the coming weeks in the main entrance at St Mary’s.

The Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust and the Wessex Cancer Trust have joined forces to refurbish a ward at St Mary’s to provide the new unit. The Kit Hobday Trust is also raising money to equip the new unit with additional features such as plasma tvs.

For the mosaic project, all you have to do is write your initials or name, or draw a ‘smiley face’ on the coloured square you’ve purchased. Once the picture is complete it will go on permanent display in the new chemotherapy unit, brightening the environment for the patients.

You can buy a coloured square from the following places:

• The League of Friends’ shop in St Mary’s reception.
• From appeal fund raisers at leading Island outdoor events.
• By inviting appeal fund raisers to get your school, club or business involved.

The mosaic project is among various fund raising initiatives for the chemotherapy unit, including private donations.

l For further information about the new chemotherapy unit, or to make individual donations, please contact Steve Dear on the information line at (01983) 552422 or email steven.dear@iow.nhs.uk


Cancer affects one in three people on the Isle of Wight and in the UK.

Chemotherapy - the use of drugs as a treatment - provides an
increasingly important means of combating cancer.

As the range and effectiveness of new drugs improve the demand for chemotherapy increases.

The Island desperately needs a new unit to satisfy this demand, and to prevent Islanders having to make a journey across the Solent to receive treatment.