£75,000 Grant Boosts Appeal

The Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG) is delighted to announce that it has received a generous grant of £75,000 from the Richard Oatley Foundation towards the purchase of a new Superficial X-ray Therapy unit for the Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital (RUH), Bath.

BCUSG is currently fundraising to purchase this vital piece of equipment, which will directly improve the treatment and care of cancer patients across Bath and the surrounding region.

The appeal is being led in partnership with the Royal United Hospital to replace the existing Superficial X-ray Therapy unit, which was originally funded by BCUSG in 2010. After 15 years of dedicated service, the current machine has now reached the end of its safe operational life.

While Superficial X-ray Therapy units are typically replaced every 10 years, the existing machine has exceeded its expected lifespan by five years thanks to the exceptional care and maintenance provided by both the Cancer Centre team and the service provider. This has enabled the unit to continue operating safely and reliably for significantly longer than anticipated.

The new state-of-the-art unit will ensure that patients in Bath, North East Somerset, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas continue to receive high-quality, specialist cancer treatment close to home, reducing the need to travel to other hospitals for care. The Superficial X-ray Therapy unit equipment is mainly used to treat skin cancers that do not require surgery.

BCUSG’s fundraising goal is £325,000, which will fully fund the purchase and installation of the new Superficial X-ray Therapy unit, ensuring that the Cancer Centre at the RUH can continue to provide essential treatment for patients who need it most.

On 1 June 2026, the Richard Oatley Foundation confirmed a grant award of £75,000 towards the appeal, providing a significant boost to the fundraising campaign.

The Richard Oatley Foundation supports a small number of carefully selected charities and projects that have a direct impact on the lives of people living and working in Wiltshire and Somerset. The Foundation partners with organisations operating across a broad range of sectors, including farming and agriculture, cancer research and patient support, rural communities, mental wellbeing, and the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes.

BCUSG would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Richard Oatley Foundation for its generous support. This substantial contribution brings the charity a significant step closer to achieving its fundraising target and securing this vital equipment for local cancer patients. You can learn more about the Richard Oatley Foundation here.

For more information about the Richard Oatley Foundation, please visit its website. To support BCUSG’s appeal for a new Superficial X-ray Therapy unit, please click the donation button below.