How Your Donations Have Helped - Force cancer charity

1985
Dr Chris Rowland and Mr Mike Pagliero work together to improve treatment for oesophageal patients.

1986
The RD&E Hospital becomes the first hospital in the world to put an advanced type of Selectron machine into use.

1987
H.O.P.E and Selectron funds merge to become F.O.R.C.E. (Friends of the Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre Exeter) and Bernard Simons becomes the Charities Co-ordinator. Among the first trustees are eight members of Tiverton & District Lions Club.

1988
Cancer patient June Classon raises £5,000 for H.O.P.E.

1989
Mayor of Exeter, Diana Bess, opens the FORCE Cancer Centre at Noy Scott House in the presence of FORCE Patron, Sir Anthony Parsons.

1990
Dr Chris Rowland forms links with the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam to produce a co-operative chemotherapy study. An article in Observer endorses H.O.P.E. Dr Hong is appointed as new Clinical Oncology Consultant. Meriel is appointed as Public Relations /Fund-raising Officer. Trustee, Mervyn Hayes raises £6500 from a Gala Concert.

Beaujolais Classic Car Run raises nearly £20,000 *photo*

1991
Claire Ridler is appointed as FORCE Clinical Research Assistant.

FORCE Co-Founder Bernard Simons retires.

Exeter Wheelers present £1063 from a sponsored bike ride.

Health Minister Virginia Bottomley visits FORCE Cancer Centre and is 'impressed by innovative research'.

FORCE funded students, Melanie Priston and Michelle Allsopp complete their Phd projects. 

First FORCE Ball is held at Ugbrooke House. 

Cancer patient Julian Thomas continues work on the new hospital wearing his chemotherapy infusion pump. 

Mervyn Hayes is appointed as FORCE Administrator.

1992
FORCE raises £70,000 for computer to plan radiotherapy treatment. Researchers collaborate with Centres in the USA. Exeter Police & Social Club raise £10,000.

1993
Sir Peter Mills heads a £150,000 Appeal for a Flow Cytometer. FORCE purchases a new Laser Outlining System for Radiotherapy. Carolyne Randall is appointed as FORCE Secretary. Ruth & Derek Boobier hold their 1st Open Day for FORCE

Friends groups are lauched in Honiton, Sidmouth and Exeter.

1994
Friends Groups start in Ottery St Mary, Silverton, Brixham, Cullompton. All night squash raises £1,600.

FORCE appoints a full time Scientific Research Director. Jean Cantle's sweatshirt sales reach £10,000.

Its' a knockout for Meriel!

Exeter Cancer Call operates out of Noy Scott House.

1995
A new laboratory is set up to research into programmed cell death in breast cancer.

Fingle Glen Golf Club hand over £3482.67. Students at Queen Elizabeth Community College, Crediton organise a Fun Run for FORCE.

Lynn Griffiths runs in the London Marathon after gruelling chemotherapy for breast cancer.

1996
FORCE raises its first million.

New breast cancer drug trials for Exeter - Taxol and Losoxantrone.

FORCE Patron Sir Anthony Parsons dies of cancer.

1997
Nello and Marc set out on their epic ‘Ride for Life' cycling from Topsham to Venice. £60,000 is raised for a new Selectron Machine,

The Lord Coleridge becomes the new Patron of FORCE. FORCE employs Jenny Jolly as Oncology Support Specialist. The FORCE shop holds a fashion show at Matthews Hall, Topsham.

The first Spring Ball at Westpoint raises £10.000

1998
Exeter Round Tablers raise £2,000.

30 more infusion pumps are purchased for Exeter and Torbay.
Foresters raise £7332.98 in their best ever fund-raising year.
Teign Valley Golfers present a cheque for £6941.60.
Lyn Griffiths walks from Brixham to Bristol after further chemotherapy treatment.

Patient Support and Information Service is launched.
Patients comment -
‘my batteries have been recharged'
‘my six sessions of treatment have been a wonderful experience for me and most certainly played a great part in my recovery'.

1999
Management of the FORCE laboratories is handed over to the Institute of Clinical Sciences.

£55,000 is raised for an Ultra-Sound Mini-Probe.

Exeter Festival Chorus hold a memorial concert for Peter O'Brien.

An assistant to the FORCE Clinical Research Manager is appointed.

The shop is extended into next door premises to incorporate a furniture department. It is now officially one of the most successful shops in the UK.

The Devonshire Ball raises £8,040.

FORCE raises over £500,000 in a year for the first time.