THE people of Northallerton are being urged to dig deep into their pockets to help support a major new cancer centre in the town.

Macmillan Cancer Support has launched a £500,000 fundraising appeal to support the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, which is currently being built at the Friarage Hospital.

Macmillan is working with the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to build the centre. Yorkshire businessman and philanthropist Sir Robert Ogden has jointly funded the project with the charity.

The centre will offer the latest state-of-the-art cancer care and support facilities, all under one roof.

South Tees Hospitals has invested in the scheme and provided clinical input to the project. The whole project is costing around £10m in total.

Construction work is well underway and the building is on track to be completed in September this year.

Macmillan fundraising manager Rebecca Shanks said: “There’s a growing need for services – every year, almost 600 people in the Northallerton area are told they have cancer.

“The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre will be a fantastic source of support for patients and their families. You can support the project by making a donation to our appeal."

She added:"The community has already shown incredible generosity, raising more than £100,000 since building work started – we hope you can help us reach our target.”

The finished centre will include a chemotherapy treatment lounge with capacity to treat up to 35 patients a day. There will also be a range of complementary therapy facilities and treatment and consulting rooms.

An information and support centre and supporting accommodation for patients, which will include telemedicine facilities, will also be key features of the development.

Money raised by Macmillan’s appeal is going towards the charity’s contribution to the project. To get involved with the appeal, call the Fundraising Support Centre on 0300 1000 200 or email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk

The charity is holding a drop-in information event at the Friarage today, Thursday, between 1pm and 5pm on a stand close to the children’s outpatients department.

The session be a chance to find out more about the progress of the building works, and to discover how to get involved with Macmillan’s fundraising appeal.

To find out more about the appeal visit macmillan.org.uk/northallertonbuild