One year on centre dream comes nearer
AYEAR ago this week the Christie announced its £23m plans to build a state of the art new cancer centre in Macclesfield.
The news that such top class medical facilities would come to our town - and treat 1,500 new patients a year - was widely welcomed.
And many people showed just how much the new centre is wanted by throwing themselves into fundraising to help meet the cost.
Twelve months on and things have moved forward significantly, so here’s a recap of the last year and the progress that has been made.
It was March 20, 2019, when the plans were announced with Christie bosses describing them as an ‘ambitious project to transform cancer care for thousands of patients’.
Fundraising got off to a flier as Adlington-based firm Proseal donated £1m to the cause.
In August more details of what the centre would look like were revealed when the planning application for it was submitted to Cheshire East Council. This application was subsequently approved in September.
Last month the Christie released a computer generated walk through to give a three dimensional idea of what the centre could look like.
A timetable for the project was also set out with the start of demolition work at the site, at Macclesfield Hospital, said to be imminent.
It was said people should start to see the steel framework of the centre appear in July this year and walls and the roof will appear in September.
Building work should be finished in summer 2021 ahead of an opening in the autumn of this year.
While these landmarks have come and gone or been predicted for specific points in time what has remained constant is your commitment to raising money for the Christie at Macclesfield appeal.
From schoolchildren to pensioners people of all ages have done their bit.
There’s been fashion shows, ladies lunches, sponsored hikes, birthday parties with donations instead of presents, concerts and barbecues.
So here’s a reminder of just some of them to say thank you to everyone for their kindness and generosity!