TREETOPS HOSPICE - GEORGE'S LAST BIG CHALLENGE
07:00, 26 October 2009
AS the driving force behind a £15m hospice
fundraising appeal, George Cameron is no stranger to ambitious projects.
The father-of-two
is now hoping to lend his expertise to plans to help Notts patients with life-limiting diseases.
Mr Cameron is just a week into his new job as chief executive of Treetops Hospice in Risley, which serves Notts and Derbyshire.
The hospice will soon double the number of patients with conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis it
can see with the creation of a new day care centre.
Its Ripple Appeal is on the way to bringing
in £1m to pay for the centre to be built, with the help of dozens of fundraising events in recent months.
But more money – particularly
public donations – is needed to ensure services can run once building is completed in June.
Mr Cameron said: "This is the last big challenge of my working career, to ensure we achieve the building, sustain the
services and take Treetops Hospice forward.
"Concluding the appeal is the end of the
beginning and what we need to do then is continue to get support.
"It is important
we are able to fulfil our plans to help these people."
The 56-year-old from Northern
Ireland spent five years as fundraising manager at Children's Hospice South West before starting work in Risley.
His crowning achievement there was leading a £15m fundraising appeal to build a children's hospice
in Bristol, which opened in 2006.
He previously worked for Barnardo's as Retail Operations
Manager and the Royal National Institute for the Blind as National Community Fundraising Manager.
Mr Cameron took over at Treetops after the retirement of previous chief executive Clare Janes – who lost her battle
with cancer earlier this month.
He said: "From the information I have received before
starting, Clare did a magnificent job in her seven years.
"When she started, the service
was just trundling along and she developed it into what it is today.
"The year on year
growth with the amount of guests we have been supporting is a great testimony to her."
Melanie King, vice chair of trustees at Treetops, said: 'We are absolutely delighted George is joining us.
"He will be bringing with him considerable experience that will be reflected in the future achievements
here at Treetops and help us fulfil the ambitious plans for the hospice."
Treetops
cares for some 750 patients from Notts and Derbyshire a year, helped by 400 volunteers.
It
offers day care services at its base in Risley as well as a service allowing people with terminal illnesses to die with dignity
at home.
The original £2.5m day care centre has been scaled down due to the credit
crunch – though officials insist care will not be compromised.
Mr Cameron admitted
the hospice would have to rely more and more on voluntary funding, but said he was confident about the future.
He said: "We have found that people's attitude to charity and giving is very good.
"If they are tightening their belts charity giving tends to be one of the last things they take off their
lists."
For more information about the Ripple Appeal visit www.treetopshospice.org.uk
or call 0115 939 4551.
