A TRUST set up in memory of a cancer patient has donated £20,000 to Southend Hospital.

The Christine Willett Trust has raised £70,000 for the hospital over the last 25 years, with their latest fundraising effort raising £20,000 to help cancer patients.

The Trust was set up in memory of Christine Willett of Bulphan, Upminster, who died of breast cancer at Southend Hospital in 1993 at the age of 44.

One of her last wishes was that all her assets should be used to help other cancer patients.

Following her death, her husband Colin set up a trust and has raised funds for Essex hospitals, including Southend, ever since.

Mr Willett attended the presentation with his wife Joyce Willett and Monica Gardner and Margaret Berry, who are Secretary and Treasurer of the trust.

The biggest item that the £20,000 donated helped purchase was a new breast board for the Radiotherapy Department.

James Green, Head of Radiotherapy, said: “We are so grateful for this donation which has enabled us to buy a state of the art breast board to help immobilise patients who are being treated for breast cancer.

“This breast board provides both comfortable and reproducible immobilisation of the patient, while improving the accuracy of the treatment.”

The donation also ensured that the hospital could buy vital equipment to benefit oncology and haematology patients staying on Bedwell Ward.

The equipment included four new reclining chairs, three blood pressure monitors, and a new vein finder machine.

Colin Willett said: “It’s been great to see our equipment in use. Christine would be so pleased and proud that we have continued her legacy and that even after all these years she is continuing to make a real positive difference in the lives of others who have cancer.”

Lucy Lock, Community Fundraising Officer at Southend Hospital, said “The Christine Willett Trust has donated a staggering £70,000 worth of equipment to Southend Hospital over the years which is a very fitting number as we recently celebrated 70 years of the NHS.

“We are extremely grateful to the Christine Willett Trust and their supporters for once again providing us with vital new equipment that will help us enhance the care we can provide to our patients with cancer.”