DRWF have awarded an £81,000 grant to the Stephanie Marks Appeal at Ashford & St. Peter'
s Hospital NHS Trust to help build a new diabetes resource centre.
The grant comes in response to the Appeal’s application to bridge the funding shortfall required to enable the construction project to begin.
An existing building located in the grounds of St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey will be extended and refurbished to provide a 'one-stop-shop' for treatment, research and support serving around 400,000 people covering six boroughs in the locality.
The Stephanie Marks Appeal was established to assist in the relief of persons with diabetes and raise awareness about the condition and its associated complications. It was launched in June 2003 following the sad death of 17 year old Stephanie Marks who had received treatment for Type 1 diabetes at St. Peter's. Inspired by the care she had received at the hospital, it was Stephanie's dream to become a doctor and help others suffering with the long-term condition. The Appeal is dedicated to improving the quality of diabetes care in Surrey and West Middlesex.
From the Appeal’s inception, it has been
driven by Stephanie's parents and Dr. Mike Baxter, the Clinical Director for diabetes at Ashford and St. Peter's, who has always been an active supporter of moving the balance of diabetes care into the primary sector. He was an early advocate of GPs with a special interest in Diabetes and is now the Trust's Medical Director.
The Resource Centre will benefit diabetes patients of all ages by delivering first class local accessibility to integrated diabetes treatment, education and research. It will provide emotional support and practical advice to patients, carers and their families, covering all aspects of diabetes-related healthcare, enabling people to become pro-active in their self-management.
The Appeal approached DRWF in early 2008 to apply for funding of £81,000, the shortfall required to commence the project. To that point, they had raised an incredible £675,000. The charity trustees agreed that the aims of the Appeal were in-line with the DRWF’s mission and strapline of 'Staying well until a cure is found…' and granted the full sum.
A cheque was presented by DRWF Trustee, Mrs Jane Sutherland-Earl and CEO Sarah Bone to the Stephanie Marks Appeal Patron, Sir Ian Botham and Committee Chairman Clive Thompson, at a media launch held on 4th September.
With all funding now in place, building works will commence in the Autumn of this year, with completion hoped for summer/autumn 2009. In recognition of the substantial grant made by DRWF, the training rooms within the facility will be known as the 'DRWF educational suite' or similar. The full range of DRWF patient information leaflets will also be available within the centre.