Launch to raise $5.7 million for bone cancer house

Media release – September 5, 2005

Launch to raise $5.7 million for bone marrow cancer house

The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust will launch a campaign this week to raise $5.7 million for stage two of Ranui House in Christchurch.

A special fund-raising event to launch the campaign will be held at Huntley House in Christchurch on Thursday.

The trust needs $5.7 million to build a new accommodation facility next to Ranui House to include 18 family apartments.

Trust chief executive Allison Nicol said today the trust planned to finish the new building by 2007.

``We need this facility because we have been turning away several families a week. Patients and their families from all over New Zealand are able to stay at Ranui House when they have come to Christchurch for treatment.

``Patients from all departments and hospitals are able to use this facility, including Christchurch Women's Hospital.

``In some cases families stay for many months at a time and this accommodation becomes very much a 'home away from home'. Our aim is to keep the family together during this extremely stressful time therefore family apartments are essential. ‘’

It is vital to have self-contained units enabling families and the patient, who are often in a life threatening situation, to lead as normal a life as possible in difficult circumstances, she said.

Ranui House, opened in 1993, has nine apartments and is in high demand being close to Christchurch Hospitals. The stage two development will increase the number of self-catering apartments to 27.

The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust was established in 1990 to raise funds to help build the bone marrow transplant unit at Christchurch Hospital and to build and run Ranui House the accommodation facility, which is directly across the road from Christchurch Hospital and Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

ENDS

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