The Primrose Car Service, run by Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends (BHC&F), has received a significant boost thanks to the generosity of The Panacea Charitable Trust, which has donated £75,000 to support local cancer patients.
This has enabled the service to purchase three new vehicles, which will join their six-strong fleet, ensuring that patients undergoing radiotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital can travel in comfort and safety from their homes in Bedfordshire.
At a recent handover of the first car, a Toyota Corolla Hybrid, outside the Macmillan Primrose Clinic, representatives from The Panacea Charitable Trust, BHC&F, and volunteer drivers gathered to celebrate the donation together.
Nick Monsell of the Panacea Charitable Trust, said: “Having been a major donor towards the Macmillan Primrose Appeal in 2001, The Panacea Charitable Trust is delighted to once again support the work of BHC&F, in this instance by providing £75,000 of funding to enable the purchase of three vehicles for the Primrose Car Service which provides a valuable service for those in need of transport to Addenbrookes.
“As a charity, we are committed to helping the community in Bedford, and providing this funding to BHC&F is a great way to achieve this.”
Unique service
Founded in 2006, the Primrose Car Service offers a unique, door-to-door transport solution for cancer patients referred for daily radiotherapy treatment in Cambridge.
They operate five days a week with drivers providing lifts in morning and afternoon shifts. Across the year, they cover around 140,000 miles between them.
Entirely volunteer-led and free for patients to use, the service has been recognised with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It relies not only on its dedicated team of drivers but also on the upkeep and renewal of its environmentally friendly car fleet.
This new hybrid car, which is already in service, is capable of over 60mpg and will help reduce running costs and environmental impact, both key priorities for the charity as it continues to support thousands of journeys each year.
The donation from the Panacea Charitable Trust will fund two additional replacement vehicles over the next two years, securing the service’s future for years to come.
Incredible generosity
Peter Marks, lead co-ordinator of the Primrose Car Service and one of its volunteer drivers, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the incredible generosity of The Panacea Charitable Trust – their support will secure this unique service well into the next decade.”
Dr Robert Oakley, Vice-Chairman of BHC&F, added, “Our committee were amazed and incredibly grateful to the Trustees of the Panacea Charitable Trust for their amazing support and generosity.
“There is no better way to celebrate the 20th birthday of our Primrose Car Service, of which we are very proud.”
