BASINGSTOKE RFC President Dr Steve Tristram has chosen Ark Cancer Centre Charity as his Charity of the Year for the 2015-16 season.

The President is now encouraging fellow club members to help raise awareness of, and funds for, the unique centre, which will serve residents in the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) area, including Basingstoke and Deane.

The £5million appeal will ensure a range of support services and complementary therapies are available alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments in a calm and uplifting environment.

The new centre is earmarked for a location in the Basingstoke and Deane area, and if the preferred site near to Junction 7 of the M3 is approved, it will be easily accessible to everyone in the HHFT region. The centre is scheduled to open at the end of 2018.

Dr Tristram, who has taken up the role of President after 20 years as Chairman at the club, announced the new President’s Charity of the Year initiative before the First XV’s first home game of the season against KCS Old Boys’ RFC.

Dr Tristram said: “The rugby club has a proud tradition of being at the heart of the local community, and of helping good causes. Ark Cancer Centre Charity is a very worthy cause, and I am delighted to endorse and support it as the President’s Charity of the Year for 2015-16.”

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees said: “I am very grateful to Steve for choosing to support Ark Cancer Centre Charity in this way.

“To have the support of the President and other Basingstoke RFC members is a real boost to the £5m appeal and our mission to raise awareness of this unique centre, which will deliver the care and support that cancer patients, their families and loved ones need and deserve.”

One of the ways in which the club will support the charity is through a President’s Charity Lunch which will take place on Saturday, November 7 before the First XV’s home game with Cobham.