BASINGSTOKE hospital has been able to buy a vital piece of kit thanks to a charitable donation.

KatCanDo is a charity which raises funds to support cancer patients through the provision of improved equipment and services.

Through a range of different fundraising events, the charity was able to raise £10,000, which was donated to the North Hampshire Medical Fund, to allow Basingstoke hospital to purchase a ultrasound transducer.

This piece of equipment will aid consultants in identifying cancers and helping to plan treatment.

KatCanDo was formed in 2004 after Kate Coles, who was herself battling bowel cancer, overheard a cancer specialist complain a piece of equipment which he thought would benefit a group of his patients was not available.

After losing her battle with cancer, Kate’s family and friends continued her dream of making a charity to support the NHS.

To date, the charity has raised more than £300,000 to organisations and help the fight against cancer. The charity is run entirely by volunteers and people of all ages and backgrounds become involved in our fundraising efforts.

Trustee of KatCanDo, Kendra Cardy, said: “The charity is pleased to donate the £10,000 required to purchase the ulrasound transducer.

“This important piece of equipment with its technology is used during surgery to identify cancers in the liver and plan the best treatment for that individual patient.”

The North Hampshire Medical Fund ensures money which is donated to the charity goes towards medical equipment for the Basingstoke hospital which can help save lives or make treatment and recovery more certain and less painful.

Medical director for the North Hampshire Medical Fund, Dr Merv Rees, said: “ I would like to thank KatCanDo for supporting the North Hampshire Medical Fund enabling them to purchase this life saving and innovative equipment keeping Hampshire Hospitals at the forefront of clinical excellence.”

To find out more about the work of KatCanDo visit katcando.org.uk.