A Blackwood-based charity has donated £11,000 to the new Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) breast care ‘Centre of Excellence’.
The donation from Matthew Walklin’s Make a Smile Foundation will go towards the renovation of two counselling rooms at the centre, which is expected to open at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in late 2021.
Former Caerphilly County Borough Council mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, chose to raise money for the charity during his time as mayor.
The charity has match funded the total raised by Cllr Adams and has presented a cheque to the health board.
ABUHB has said that the current breast care units are not fit for purpose, despite seeing more than 5,000 patients each year.
The new unit will be funded by the health board, which has launched a fundraising appeal.
The appeal aims to raise £200,000 towards the unit, which will serve thousands of women, men and their families.
A voluntary group, ‘The Friends of the ABUHB Breast Unit’ was also set up to help raise funds.
Emma Wilkins, fundraising manager for breast services at ABUHB, said: “Breast cancer has sadly affected so many and we have received incredible support from the community and people whose lives have been altered forever by this disease.
“We are very grateful to Matthew Walklin’s Make a Smile Foundation and Cllr Adams for their generosity. The renovation of the counselling rooms will have a profound benefit to people being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“We hope we can continue to make a real difference raising funds to provide additional services that will benefit so many of our patients.”
Ms Wilkins added: “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are once again running our successful #TurnABUHBpink campaign.”
The health board is encouraging people to hold fundraising parties at work or in school.
For more information about holding a party, contact emma.wilkins5@wales.nhs.uk or call 07970 880 031.