Cornwall’s £3.7 Million Cancer Fundraiser: What’s Next for the Sunrise Appeal?

A special evening at The Alverton Hotel in Truro marked 25 years of fundraising success for the Sunrise Appeal on Thursday, 3rd April 2025. Since its launch, the charity has raised over £3.7 million to support the Sunrise Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, helping to deliver world class cancer treatment for patients across Cornwall.

“It was an incredible evening, full of reflection and gratitude,” said Janet Shephard, Trustee and Co-Founder of the Sunrise Appeal. “We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the unwavering support of the Cornish community. In the past 25 years we have contributed £2.9 million to the centre, keeping equipment and technologies cutting edge, and providing educational bursaries for oncology staff. The generosity of this community has made a very real difference to the lives of cancer patients in Cornwall.”

A Community Effort from Day One

Supporters, volunteers, and key figures from across the charity’s history gathered to celebrate the occasion, including representatives from BBC Cornwall, which played a leading role in the original ‘Donate £1’ campaign. The campaign aimed to raise £500,000 by encouraging each of Cornwall’s 500,000 residents to give just £1.

Colin Micklewright, Treasurer and Trustee, shared his gratitude during the celebration:
“We are truly humbled by the incredible generosity we’ve received over the last 25 years. This celebration was a chance for us to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together and look ahead to the continued work needed to provide the best cancer treatment possible in Cornwall. We couldn’t have done it without the dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and donors.”

Investing in the Future of Cancer Care

The Sunrise Appeal has helped introduce advanced technologies at the Sunrise Centre, including Surface Guided Radiotherapy, enhancing the accuracy and comfort of cancer treatment.

Looking forward, the charity announced its next commitment—a £400,000 grant to support further advancements at the Centre, keeping Cornwall at the cutting edge of cancer care.

As the charity continues its mission, the focus remains clear: to give local patients access to the very best treatment and care, right here in Cornwall.

📷The Sunrise Trustees