The Blood Fund is a new departmental charity at Imperial College Healthcare NT, raising funds for the Department of Haematology. Monies raised will support a variety of projects aimed at improving the quality of care for patients and research activities. These include: additional support for clinical trials, support for young scientists and doctors to start their research careers, equipment for our diagnostic laboratories, and providing amenities to make the experience of treatment for patients more comfortable.
The Blood Fund's aim is to raise money for patients with all blood diseases which will include not only those with malignancies but also non-malignant diseases such as haemophilia and sickle cell anaemia. Many of you have kindly donated in the past to 'Leuka' but the charity has recently adopted a more national and research orientated approach. However, there is unfortunately still a huge need for more local funds in three vital areas.
First; to improve the environment and experience for our patients, something all of you will appreciate. Examples include new seating in out-patients clinics, an improvement in wifi access and the provision of tablets for patients without computers so they can keep in touch with family and friends.
Second; to support clinical trials with extra research nurses and data managers. The innovations in new drugs for blood diseases have been phenomenal in the past 5-10 years and we intend to do our best to get these exciting new treatments not yet available via the NHS to as many patients at possible through clinical trials
Finally for research; we enjoy good funding through the classic agencies, Medical Research Council, CRUK, British Heart Foundation, Bloodwise etc., but these typically fund projects for 3 or 5 years and for ideas that are already developed. We need funding for shorter periods of time (6-12 months) to 'pump-prime' new ideas so we can generate preliminary data in order to write proposals to these bigger funders.
The Blood Fund's launch coincides with an event that the hospital has arranged called WalkforWards. The event means we can elect wards or departments as recipients of the funds we raise.
Professor Jane Apperley and her family will walk as a team. The entire walk allows only 250 people but she is proud to say that 25 of them are from the haematology department at Imperial College.
If you or your friends and family want to help then they can donate directly to the following fundraising pages -
Professor Jane Apperley, Chair of the Department of Haematology at the Imperial College and the Chief of Service for Clinical Haematology at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/McCue-WalkforWards
Dr. Holgar Auner, Consultant Haematologist and research group leader at Imperial's Hammersmith Hospital at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/H-Auner
and
Georgios Ntelipoulos, Postdoctoral Research Associate Imperial College, at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/George-Hara
JustGiving sends your donation straight to Imperial College Healthcare Charity and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more. They've challenged Imperial College staff to raise £100,000 in the first year so let's help them get started.
Other ways to donate to The Blood Fund, either online at www.imperialcharity.org.uk/donate (selecting The Blood fund as your Charity) or text HAEM60 £5 to 70070.
In September The Blood Fund will be having a more formal launch with presentations to explain what they do and why they need help.