Cannock contractor raises more than £20k for Wolverhampton hospital charity

Refurbishment contractor Inco Contracts pledged to support cancer patients in the Midlands as its charity of the year and has successfully generated over £20,000 through a series of golf days, a ‘Miles in March’ competition and a one-off £4000 donation from integrated healthcare specialist Phoenix Medical Supplies.

Staff at the Cannock firm are now busily filling the bags with contents to assist patients while undergoing their chemotherapy journey, including wet wipes, lavender oil, tissues, activity books, a handheld fan, lip balm, colouring pencils and, following a local campaign, different coloured knitted hearts made by craft groups in the area.

Inco Contracts will also hand over more than 1000 radiotherapy water bottles as part of its campaign, doubling the number they were looking to deliver when they started the drive.

“There has been a fantastic response to this year’s charity drive, with every single member of staff and many companies in our supply chain getting behind it. After all, nearly every person in the UK will know someone who has experienced a battle with cancer," said Associate Director Tim Lewis.

“Having successfully gone through chemotherapy myself, I know how hard it can be for patients. The chemo comfort bags will provide a welcome boost and support to patients undergoing treatment as part of their journey - it’s the little things that make a big difference and we have raised enough money to ensure 1100 people get one!

“The radiation bottles are an idea I have personally pushed for as I understand how important it is to have the right amount of fluid in your system. It can speed up the process and cut patient’s time in the radiotherapy unit.”

Nigel Swift, Phoenix UK’s Deputy Chief Executive, added his support: “This is a cause very close to my own heart and fits perfectly with the company’s desire to support the good causes and local communities we operate in.

“We were delighted to have made our contribution and helped Inco Contracts smash its targets on chemo comfort bags and radiotherapy water bottles. The difference these will make is huge.”

The firm has also thrown it's weight behind the refurbishment of the children’s garden at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

The £35,000 project will bring a tired space back to life with a full redecoration, the build of a large pergola, installation of festoon lights and an outdoor cinema projection screen to provide much-needed outdoor entertainment for poorly children.

Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, said: “We’ve just taken delivery of our first 400 ‘chemo bags’ and staff on the ward are delighted, as they know what a difference they’ll make. Just having some activities for people to do, little hearts to show people care and the notepad and pen so they can make notes ahead of their next meeting with the consultant.

"Tim and the company have not stopped there, throwing their weight behind the children’s garden DIY SOS, which will start in earnest in February.

“With Inco donating the labour, paints and the big projector, it means we can spend all the £35,000 raised on making the space the best it can be with an outdoor climbing centre, sound wall, mud kitchen, music kitchen, sensory flowerbeds and new flooring – the latter meaning we can roll out hospital beds too.”