Chairman's charities

 

21 June 2012

This is my first comment piece since being elected into the chairman position.

 Last week in FM World, you heard from Gareth Tancred, chief executive of the BIFM, who outlined his vision for the future of the institute. As well as absolutely supporting this, I am very excited to be chairman at this time of change and development. So I am going to use this comment piece to tell you about the charities I have chosen
to support. 

The first is The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk). It is a world-leading cancer centre specialising in cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Partnered with the Institute of Cancer Research, it is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, treating over 40,000 patients each year.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity finances state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, as well as programmes that support pioneering research into the prevention and treatment of cancer. The charity enables the hospital to continue its ground-breaking work for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide.

The second charity is Breast Cancer Care (www.breastcancercare.org.uk), whose vision is that every person affected by breast cancer gets the best treatment, information and support. It does this by combining the personal experiences of people affected by breast cancer with clinical expertise. In this unique way, it provides information and offers emotional and practical support; brings people affected by breast cancer together; campaigns for the improvement in standards of support and care; and promotes the importance of early detection.

These two charities are very important to me as they are supporting me enormously. They are ensuring that I am in the best of health for the next two years and it's wonderful that I'm able to give back to them in this way.

For me, the most important aspect of their work is the promotion, work and lobbying they do for men and women with secondary breast cancer. They have nominated 13 October as secondary breast cancer awareness day and work closely with government to improve services to this group.

So over the next two years, look out for fundraising events - and dig deep in your pockets! If you are going to be doing any fundraising in the next two years and would like to support these charities, do let us know.

Ismena Clout is chairman of the BIFM.