CUPPAS and snacks served by volunteers at the Rosemere Cancer Centre's coffee shop at Royal Preston Hospital have raised more than £10,500 in the past year.

The Rosemere Cancer Foundation charity has spent the money, plus an extra £5,218, on refurbishing the six clinic rooms in the centre’s radiotherapy department.

Each week the rooms are used by more than 300 cancer patients from south Cumbria and Lancashire who travel to Preston for radiotherapy.

The coffee shop serves a free drink to all patients and anyone who accompanies them.

Peter Merry, the department’s pre-treatment team leader, said: “These clinic rooms are vital spaces in which our staff offer support, give advice and the deliver the best care they can but the rooms had become tired and dated.”

New furniture, new lighting, artwork, colour-washed walls and new work stations have now been added to give the rooms a makeover.

Dan Hill, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer, said: “The money raised by the coffee shop plus a little bit extra has enabled us to create rooms that now have a modern, fresh feel and are less clinical, ensuring the patient experience is the best it can be.

"Our coffee shop volunteers do an absolutely fantastic job year on year, providing a much-appreciated service that has real tangible benefits for patients. I can’t thank them enough.”

Staffed entirely by volunteers, the coffee shop, which opened in 2002, has raised more than £250,000 over the years for Rosemere Cancer Foundation through the sale of refreshments. All centre patients, along with anyone who accompanies them, receives a free hot drink of their choice when they arrive for an appointment.

For more, see www.rosemere.org.uk