A campaign to raise £200,000 to buy state-of-the-art equipment that will revolutionise the treatment of breast cancer has received a major boost thanks to the efforts of kind-hearted walkers.
A total of 78 staff from West Herts Hospitals Teaching NHS Trust, their families, friends and appeal supporters raised almost £30,000 after taking part in the Titty Trail on Sunday – an 11-mile trek from Watford General Hospital to St Albans City Hospital where the breast unit is based.
The money will go towards the West Herts Hospitals Charity’s appeal to buy two Savi Scout surgical guidance systems, which use radar technology to precisely target and remove cancerous tissue.
These will be based at St Albans City Hospital, where patients from across West Herts – including Watford – are treated for the disease. To learn more about the appeal and make a donation, visit https://raisewestherts.org.uk/ appeals/beatcancer/.
The appeal is being backed by the Watford Observer, and its sister title the Herts Advertiser, and all participants in the walk worse t-shirts carrying the logos of our two newspapers.
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The first walker home was 12-year-old Amy Woods from Bushey.
She was keen to show her support for the appeal and completed the trek in three hours 52 minutes.
The trust’s chief nurse Kelly McGovern also took part.
“The first reason I took part was for one my staff members who asked me,” she said. “She has had breast cancer in the past and I thought it would be a great way of supporting her and doing this week.
“And we’re raising funds for the breast unit, so as the chief nurse I thought it was important to take part.”
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper was at the finish to congratulate participants and hand out medals.
She said: “We’ve got some fantastic services here at St Albans City Hospital and there’s a number of people across our area who have received fantastic support for breast cancer, but we all know one of the best ways to beat breast cancer is to invest in the best technology that’s going.
“We’ve got volunteers today who are raising money for this fantastic cause and I’m here to support them and say thank you for raising funds and to raise awareness that we still need to raise more to get the two [Savi Scouts] we desperately need.”
The CEO of West Herts Hospitals Charity Alison Rosen had both personal and professional reasons for wanting to be involved.
She said: "I am so proud of everyone who helped and walked at the Titty Trail.
“Funds raised will help women throughout West Herts with breast cancer. The Savi Scout equipment we’re fundraising for will enhance surgical precision and reduce recurrence of this awful disease.
“Like many of our walkers, I was motivated to complete the 11 miles in memory of a loved one touched by breast cancer. I hope my mother would be proud to see my daughter and me walking in her memory."
The charity wishes to thank the following for their support with the trail: Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership (Abbey Trail route and snack stop/stall at community centre); Little Munden Equestrian Centre (rest stop); Collie Print (route maps and signs); F.I.T-shirts (t-shirts); Watford Bar & Coffee House (rest stop) and part of Watford Rugby Club; Beefeater, Moor Mill Lane Restaurant (rest stop); Morrisons, St Albans (snacks).
More great pictures from the Titty Trail
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