Money matters
Force is a Devon based charity committed to people whose lives are affected by cancer. On the left-hand side of this page you will see different ways you can donate monies, goods or time to FORCE.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES...
For over two decades the charity has been improving the quality of treatment and care available locally and has also funded pioneering research here in Devon. To date, this equates to a contribution of over £10 million.
In September 2004 FORCE opened a purpose built cancer support centre in the grounds of the RD&E Hospital. The Centre is open five days a week and offers a whole range of non-clinical cancer support services. A library and resource room gives people access to an extensive selection of books and up-to-date information as well as guided internet access. Other services include one-to-one counselling, support groups, the ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ programme and complementary therapies. The aim of these services is to ensure that patients and families are never without good support and information from the time of diagnosis.
Despite moving into supportive care, research remains a very important part of our work. FORCE funded research is now carried out by the Peninsula Medical School and the Charity has recently agreed to fund two more studentships at a cost of £135,000 over three years. More information on our research can be found by going to Local Research.
Apart from research and support for patients and their families, FORCE has helped fund a new generation of equipment. Anyone treated for cancer locally is likely to benefit from equipment provided by the Charity – at a total cost of over £2 million. Examples of some of the equipment purchased includes:
| Brachytherapy Planning Equipment | £40,000 |
| Ultra-sound Machine – breast screening | £42,000 |
| Endoscopic Ultra-sound Machine | £123,000 |
| Ultra-sound Probe – prostate | £55,000 |
| Patient Monitor | £2,500 |
| Immunohistochemistry Machines | £55,000 |
| Selectron Machine | £60,000 |
| Light Monitors | £8,500 |
| Breast Boards | £7,000 |
| Hydraulic Bed for Yeo Ward | £4,000 |
| 40 Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps | £60,000 |
None of the above would be possible without the huge amount of support we receive from local people. We have over 70 volunteers who help at the Support Centre, on Cherrybrook Ward and at our local shop in Heavitree. With all our funds coming from voluntary contributions, we rely on our ‘Friends of Force groups, fund-raising events, legacies, donations and our six times Award Winning charity shop in Heavitree to raise much needed funds. For the 2012 financial year our total commitments will amount to £790,000.