Breast cancer charity donates £66,000 to buy new equipment for Kettering Hospital

The Crazy Hats Appeal has handed over more than £66,000 to help improve care for breast cancer patients at Kettering General Hospital.
Consultant oncoplastic surgeons at Kettering Hospital Gavin Wilson & Alexandra Knight with the Crazy Hats teamConsultant oncoplastic surgeons at Kettering Hospital Gavin Wilson & Alexandra Knight with the Crazy Hats team
Consultant oncoplastic surgeons at Kettering Hospital Gavin Wilson & Alexandra Knight with the Crazy Hats team

The charity – which has raised £900,000 for the hospital over the past 14 years – will buy three new state-of-the-art gamma probes used to check whether cancer has spread.

It presented the cheque for £66,736 to consultant oncoplastic breast surgeons Mr Gavin Wilson and Miss Alexandra Knight yesterday (Tuesday).

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Lead breast care nurse Karen Roberts said: “The three new probes will be used to perform sentinel lymph node biopsies which is a key part of the treatment and staging of breast cancer which determines further treatments and prognosis of the disease.

“This procedure is an accurate and minimally invasive technique which minimises the risk of complications for patient.

Associate general manager for surgery, Mairead Lacken-Hillery, said: “Working in close partnership with the Crazy Hats Appeal over the last 14 years has enabled us to make some very significant improvements to the facilities we provide for breast cancer patients.

“We work very closely with the appeal to ensure that monies donated improve the care and experience at the patients here at KGH.

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“We are extremely grateful for the continued support the Crazy Hats Appeal team and indeed to the local people who help support KGH and patient care through Crazy Hats’ fundraising initiatives.”

Executive fundraiser and appeal founder Glennis Hooper said: “We are thrilled to be able to present KGH with this large sum of money, knowing that the equipment we are purchasing for the consultant surgeons will make a significant difference to the outcomes of patients when they undergo surgery for breast cancer.

“This is what Crazy Hats is all about - making a difference.

“When the Gamma Probes were first introduced several years ago we purchased three for the hospital.

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“Now, as technology improves, so too, must we keep abreast of new and updated equipment that is vital in helping patients and the surgeons.

“We sincerely thank everyone locally and beyond who has contributed to this huge donation by means of making donations, organising fundraising events or coming along to our events.

“Their loyal and continued support for Crazy Hats is truly appreciated.”

The Crazy Hats Appeal supports breast cancer care throughout Northamptonshire and to date has raised about £1.8m for Kettering General and Northampton General Hospitals.

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The charity will continue to support both hospitals with other initiatives and is now working towards creating a purpose-built breast cancer haven in the county.

It is holding its next major fundraising walk on Sunday, March 20, at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

For more details about the walk and the charity’s work go to www.crazyhatsbreastcancerappeal.co.uk.

People can register for the walk online or on the day.

For more information call the charity on 01933 442999.

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