A special event to celebrate Eid raised £4,160 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Hosted by physician Dr Mohammed Munavvar, President of the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) the lunch event took place at the Imperial Banqueting Suite, St Mary’s Street North, Preston.

As well as a three course meal, guests including the Mayor of Preston Coun. David Borrow, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s current chairman Peter Mileham OBE and its former chairman Dennis Benson OBE, had the opportunity to browse a variety of shopping stalls organised by local artist and Rosemere Cancer Foundation supporter Kulsoom Satia.

An auction included items gifted by local businesses and families. 

Among them was a £100 Harrods voucher donated by Gafoor Poultry that sold for £350. 

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Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer Dan Hill (left) with artist Kulsoom Satia and consultant chest physician Dr Mohammed Munavvar

Brother and sister Zehran and Ayesha Punekar, whose father Mr Maqsood Punekar formerly worked as a consultant for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Preston and now works for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, presented Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer Dan Hill with a £167 donation, which they had raised themselves. Preston bathroom furniture company Roccia also presented Dan with a cheque for £450.

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Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer Dan Hill accepts a donation from Zehran and Ayesha Punekar watched by their father Mr Maqsood Punekar

The event ended with presentations on the work of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, including one by Dr Munavvar. Rosemere Cancer Foundation helped him bring new kit for the better diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer to the Royal Preston Hospital before any other hospital in the country – NHS or private - had the same.

Dr Munavvar received £100,000 from the charity to bring the UK’s first flexible endobronchial ultrasound system (EBUS) to Lancashire in October 2014. 

Of the money raised by Rosemere Cancer Foundation for its purchase, the final £37,000 came as a gift from the Muslim Council of Preston.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from all over Lancashire and South Cumbria, being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units.

These units are at the Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Teaching Hospitals, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Furness General Hospital, Westmorland General Hospital and Blackpool Teaching Hospital.

The charity funds cutting edge equipment like EBUS, research, training and other cancer services that the NHS is unable to afford.