BASINGSTOKE RFC President’s Lunch delivered a big boost for the fundraising for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

President Dr Steve Tristram is supporting the charity as his Charity of the Year and hosted a special lunch before Stoke took on Cobham.

The lunch celebrated the outstanding contribution to the club made by Past-President John Evans, and it also raised funds for, and awareness of, Ark Cancer Centre Charity and its £5million fundraising appeal in support of a new unique local cancer treatment centre that will be built in the Basingstoke area.

The lunch was a great success, and generous donations of prizes from various supporters, including The Tea Bar and the Red Lion Hotel, both in Basingstoke’s Top of the Town, Basingstoke Audi, Dummer Golf Club, and Bel and The Dragon, in Odiham, helped to pull in the pounds.

The total raised on the day will be boosted by match-funding from Greenham Common Trust, which is supporting the charity, and this means that £2,950 will be going into the appeal coffers.

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees, who is one of the driving forces behind the charity and cancer treatment centre project, made an inspirational speech about the pressing need for the new centre.

Dr Tristram, who has taken up the role of President after 20 years as Chairman at the club, said: “I am delighted that this special President’s Lunch was a great success. It gave many people a chance to celebrate the magnificent contribution that John Evans has made to the club for more than 60 years, and it raised funds for, and the profile of, Ark Cancer Centre Charity and the cancer treatment centre project.”

Rees said: “I am very grateful to Steve and everyone at the club who kindly supported the charity and cancer centre project at the President’s Lunch.

You can find out more about Ark Cancer Centre Charity – including how to make a donation – and the cancer treatment centre project at arkcancercharity.org.uk.