ARK Cancer Centre Charity has received a first class pledge of support from a Basingstoke headteacher and his school.

Leigh Adams, who leads The Costello School, in Crossborough Hill, has made Ark Cancer Centre Charity his Headteacher’s Charity of the Year and he is encouraging pupils, staff, parents and governors to support the good cause.

Ark Cancer Centre Charity is raising £5million towards a unique local cancer treatment centre that will be built in the Basingstoke area.

The preferred location for the beacon centre – which will offer traditional treatments as well as complementary and support services under one roof in a calm and uplifting environment – is close to junction 7 of the M3 near Basingstoke, and it will hopefully open by the end of 2018.

As part of the partnership between the school and charity, Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, was recently the guest speaker at the school’s Annual Presentation Evening.

Mr Jones spoke to the audience about the charity’s fundraising mission and the cancer centre project, and he explained how the charity’s £5m campaign is key to ensuring the landmark facility can deliver the services, and environment, that cancer patients and their loved ones need and deserve.

A collection held at the prizegiving evening raised £214.11 for the charity, and this donation will be doubled as the school is channelling it through a match-funding scheme run by Greenham Common Trust, which is supporting Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s appeal.

Mr Adams said: “Sadly, many local families have been touched by cancer, and many more will be in the future. The good news is this centre will clearly have a beneficial impact on the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones in the local community, and that is a positive development.

“Ark Cancer Centre Charity is raising funds for, and awareness of, the cancer centre project, and I am delighted to support this campaign by making it my Headteacher’s Charity of the Year.

“The generous donations that were made at the recent Presentation Evening have kick-started the school’s fundraising efforts, and I am sure that pupils, parents, staff and governors will be keen to raise further funds for this very worthy cause.”

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees said: “I am very grateful to Mr Adams and everyone involved with The Costello School for supporting the charity.

“This significant show of support will greatly increase awareness of the charity’s work and the cancer treatment centre project among everyone associated with The Costello School.”