Hope Against Cancer supports Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Aseptic Suite Appeal with funding for three specialist isolators

Leicester Hospitals Charity is pleased to announce that Hope Against Cancer is supporting the Aseptic Suite Appeal, which will help fund three of the five specialist isolators for the new state-of-the-art aseptic facility at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. This partnership will help more patients to access pioneering cancer treatments and clinical trials.

The new aseptic suite will be located above the Hope Cancer Trials Centre in the Osborne Building, and will enable more patients to access life-changing clinical trials and innovative therapies. It will do this by significantly increasing the capacity of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) to prepare advanced cancer treatments under sterile conditions.

The new suite, which is part of plans for our future hospitals at UHL, will house five isolators across two clean rooms and will support the preparation of complex treatments, including cancer vaccines, gene therapies and cell-based treatments.

UHL’s existing aseptic suite is currently operating at full capacity. The new facility will help remove constraints and future-proof cancer care for patients across Leicester, Leicestershire and the wider region.

Paul Desborough, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Against Cancer, said: “This year, we are incredibly proud to support the Aseptic Suite Appeal. It will be an incredible facility that helps break a significant bottleneck in the current system, enabling more patients to benefit from pioneering treatments and ensuring Leicester continues to lead the way in cancer innovation.

“The Hope Clinical Trials Centre is critical to the Leicester environment because it gives local people access to cancer treatments while retaining the clinical excellence that has been developed here in Leicester. This investment strengthens Leicester’s position as a centre of excellence for cancer research and treatment.”

The project is expected to increase treatment preparation capacity by more than 80% by 2033/34 and support the recruitment of more patients into clinical trials, particularly those from diverse and underserved communities.

Sunita Patel, Director of Leicester Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Hope Against Cancer for their generous support of the Aseptic Suite Appeal and for funding three specialist isolators that will sit at the heart of this transformative facility.

“This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when local charities come together with a shared vision to improve patient care and advance cancer research. The new aseptic suite will unlock opportunities for more patients to participate in clinical trials, support pioneering cancer treatments and strengthen Leicester’s reputation as a leader in innovation and research.

“By investing in this critical infrastructure today, we are helping ensure patients across Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond can benefit from the most advanced cancer therapies for years to come.”

Hope Against Cancer’s contribution has been made possible thanks to the generosity of its supporters and donors.

Paul Desborough added: “Without the support of our donors, projects like the Hope Cancer Trials Centre and now the new aseptic suite would take much longer to become a reality. Through your generosity and commitment, we are helping create a world-leading facility where pioneering cancer treatments can be prepared safely and delivered to those who need them most.

Sunita Patel continued: “One of the great advantages of Hope Against Cancer working alongside Leicester Hospitals Charity is that together we are delivering immediate clinical capability and capacity for patients across Leicester and Leicestershire. Through collaboration, we can achieve far more.”

The Aseptic Suite Appeal

The overall fundraising aim is £2,932,000, with more than 60% of funding already secured, including money from Hope Against Cancer; Leicester Hospitals Charity has also invested £500,000, as has the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Construction has already started and is expected to open in early 2028, creating a facility that will support cancer research and patient care for generations to come.

The Lord Mayor of Leicester’s Charity Walk has raised £7,082 for his two chosen charities, Leicester Hospitals Charity and Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS).

The walk, which took place on Saturday 3 October, saw more than 100 people take part and were supported by volunteers and local businesses. £1,225 was collected through bucket donations on the day, with the overall total being split between the two charities. The participants walked from Gurdwara Sahib, Hamilton to the Town Hall Square completing 4.8miles.

The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal, said: “I am incredibly proud of what everyone involved has achieved. I would like to thank every walker, volunteer, local business and donor who helped make the day such a success.

“It was wonderful to see people come together for two organisations that do such important work across Leicester. I hope the support shown during my charity walk will continue throughout my year as Lord Mayor.”

Ginda Basra, Trustee and Lead of Midland Langar Seva Society Leicester said: “The walk was a wonderful example of seva in action. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who gave their time and support, and to the volunteers and businesses who helped make the day possible.

“The contribution to MLSS will help us continue providing practical support to people who need it across Leicester. We are delighted to be working alongside Leicester Hospitals Charity as part of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.”

Sunita Patel, Director of Leicester Hospitals Charity said: “We are extremely grateful to the Lord Mayor and everyone who supported the walk. The generosity shown has been fantastic, and the funds will help us make a real difference to patients, families and NHS staff.

“Through Leicester Hospitals Charity, donations help fund projects, equipment, research and improvements that go towards enhancing care and patient experience. We are proud to be part of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal alongside MLSS and look forward to continuing this partnership throughout the year.”

The Charity Walk forms part of a wider programme of activities during the Lord Mayor’s year, supporting both charities and their work across Leicester. With the walk the Appeal has raised £17,636 so far.

You can read more about the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s Appeal 2026/27 and donate by clicking here.

A special courtyard garden below the Adult Intensive Care Unit (AICU) at Glenfield Hospital has been transformed into a safe, accessible and therapeutic outdoor space for critically ill patients, their families and AICU staff thanks to the generosity of supporters of Leicester Hospitals Charity and The Rotary Club of Leicester.

Phase one of the project was completed in July 2025 following a successful £50,000 funding bid through the Charity to reconfigure the space. This year, a generous gift of £10,000 from The Rotary Club of Leicester has transformed the garden to life even further.

The funding has provided dedicated transfer equipment to support patient safety to and from the ward to the garden. Seating for patients and families, sensory planting and greenery, essential garden maintenance and new pathways. There is also a beautiful willow sculpture created by a local artist.

Anthea Brookes-Elbaz, Deputy Sister, said: “We started this project in 2022, coming out of the COVID pandemic, with a vision to create a calm outdoor space where patients, their families and staff could benefit from the positive effects of nature. As a Critical Care Sister, I know how important it is to create opportunities for patients to step away from the clinical environment and experience fresh air, natural light and a sense of normality.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club of Leicester and the supporters of Leicester Hospitals Charity, as well as everyone who has supported our fundraising and development, for helping turn this vision into reality. This garden is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a team comes together, and it will make a real difference to patients, relatives and our staff.”

The garden provides a calming environment that supports patients and families, while also offering an important space for staff wellbeing. It is already making a huge difference. Critically ill patients can safely be taken outside, including patients in beds, on ventilators or breathing machines, and even those receiving life support using ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine). It gives them access to fresh air, natural light, and a sense of normality away from the busy clinical AICU environment.

Victoria Sumner, Head of Fundraising at Leicester Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club of Leicester for their generous support of this project. Their donation is helping to create a space that will have a lasting impact on patients, families and our colleagues at Glenfield Hospital.

“Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of communities coming together to support local healthcare. Every pound raised through community fundraising helps us go above and beyond what NHS funding alone can provide, enhancing the care and experience of patients when they need it most. We are proud to work alongside organisations such as The Rotary Club of Leicester to make projects like this a reality.

“And a huge thank you to our supporters, our colleagues and volunteers, and everyone who has helped make this project possible. Your support is helping create more than a garden; it is creating moments of comfort, connection and hope.”