Cancer patient raises £14,000 for hospital charity

A patient who was treated for cancer at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has said thank you for his treatment by raising over £14,000 for the hospital charity by opening his garden to the public. Furze House in Rushall is owned by Philip and Christine Greenacre and was opened on several days over the summer.

The garden was first opened to the public in 2010 and the family raised money for charity each year until 2015 when Philip Greenacre was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Philip explained what happened, “I had no symptoms, so going to the doctors was not a priority. I felt fine, but gradually I was worn down by the determined nagging of my two daughters. The first PSA test came back slightly higher than normal so a retest was booked for 3 months. The second test showed an increase so I was referred to a Urology consultant for a biopsy. The results from the biopsy stated 50% of the samples were cancerous.

“This was when the NHS, and especially the wonderful staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, really got going. The first step was a course of hormone tablets followed by hormone injections. I then became a member of the “37” club as I endured 37 days of radiotherapy. It was hard there is no getting away from that, but my treatment by the staff at the NNUH was nothing short of exceptional. Everyone always had a smile and was always positive.”
Philip and Christine decided to give ‘something back’ to the NNUH by opening their garden again this year, raising funds for the hospital charity, specifically for cancer.

Louise Cook, Fundraising Manager said, ‘ We are delighted that this year Christine and Philip are supporting their local hospital charity, with monies raised going to benefit other cancer patients at the hospital.’

L-R Mark Gilham, head of radiotherapy; Sarah Hicks, practice development nurse; Christine Greenacre; Philip Greenacre; Dr Jenny Nobes, oncology consultant; Lisa Pedro, clinical nurse specialist.