Charity appeals for funds to help cancer patients at Bedford Hospital

The Bedford Hospitals Charity is launching a new appeal to raise Â£50,000 for the purchase of three new Vauxhall Zafira cars for The Primrose Car Service.

This is the pioneering car service, set up in 2006, takes patients to and from Adenbrooke’s Hospital for radiotherapy treatment.

The service is free of charge and has a team of 25 volunteer drivers operating five days a week.

The Primrose Car Service is believed to be unique in the NHS and in 2014 the Primrose Car Service volunteers received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Patients make the 70 mile round trips for their days of treatment in comfortable Zafira cars, with three purchased by the charity.

Driven by unpaid volunteers and organised by a coordinator paid for by the charity, some 2,000 patient journeys are made each year.

The car service also has financial support from Michael R Peters and with management by the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust, .

Each of the present cars has reached 80,000 miles in less than three years service and with the continuing support of Vauxhall Cars Ltd the Charity is seeking the support of the community to buy three replacement cars.

To donate, visit their website.