MP’s Christmas card campaign to raise funds for cancer charity

Shaun Davies, Member of Parliament for Telford, has this week unveiled his annual Christmas card, created in partnership with a group of 11 local businesses. 

The collaboration aims to shine a spotlight on Lingen Davies Cancer Support’s £5 million Sunflower Appeal, raising its profile among Telford residents during the festive season and even to the desks of the Prime Minister, Ministers, The Rt Hon the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the King.

It carries one heartfelt purpose: to make sure everyone knows about the hope, urgency, and life-changing ambition behind the Sunflower Appeal.

The appeal is raising vital funds to establish Telford’s very own dedicated Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Princess Royal Hospital. This new centre will double chemotherapy treatment capacity across the region, sparing patients the long journeys currently required to access care at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s Lingen Davies Cancer Centre, and bringing life-saving treatment closer to home. 

“This year’s Christmas card is all about supporting the Lingen Davies Sunflower Appeal,” said Shaun Davies. “In their first year of fundraising I want to make sure every resident knows about the incredible work which is underway. Every donation, no matter how small, helps bring us closer to delivering a new cancer centre for Telford which the charity is working tirelessly to achieve.”

 “I was proud to host the volunteers and trustees in Parliament to launch this appeal where we welcomed the Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP and I am immensely proud of the work they are doing. Whether you donate today or next year, I hope everyone who receives this cards takes the opportunity to learn more about the appeal and support it if they can.”

Donations have already begun coming in for the Lingen Davies Sunflower Appeal, with local residents voicing strong support for a new centre. One resident shared their enthusiasm, saying: “I for one would welcome a Lingen Davies centre closer to home. Good luck, and I hope you achieve more than the amount needed to secure this project.”

The Christmas Card features artwork inspired by two of Telford’s iconic landmarks; the Iron Bridge and Thomas Telford set within winter scenes. The design, production and distribution of the Christmas Card was made possible through the kind sponsorship of 11 local businesses; Mail Solutions, Bridge Cheese, Lovell, PCB Law, Housing Plus Group, SEAH, European Innovation, Phillips Chartered Accountancy, Coforge, Court Street Medical Practice and Great Dawley Town Hall.

Naomi Atkin, CEO of Lingen Davies, said thank you for the support already given to the Sunflower Appeal by Shaun Davies, MP for Telford, and those businesses who have made this project possible.

“The Sunflower Appeal is Lingen Davies’ largest appeal to date. We have to raise £5million to deliver this new facility for patients in and around Telford. Currently up to 40% of people using the existing Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital have a TF postcode.

“We know that the demand for cancer care provision in Telford is high, there is a real need. The new Centre will enable a large proportion of patients to access treatment much closer to home, reducing travel times, associated concerns, and waiting times.

“By freeing up capacity in the existing Centre more people across our region will be able to access appointments quicker and with limited wait times.

“Thank you again to Shaun Davies for helping highlight the importance of this Appeal on a national level.”

Shaun added: “Thank you to every business that has supported this initiative. Your involvement has made an immense difference in helping us get the card into the hands of as many people across the constituency as possible. It’s fantastic to hear that donations are already coming in.”

Neil Phillips from Phillips Accounting one of the card sponsors added: “A cancer treatment centre based locally at the Princess Royal Hospital will be of enormous benefit to not just the growing population of Telford but to the whole of Shropshire. We are therefore delighted to support Shaun’s Christmas Card charity initiative in aid of the Lingen Davies Sunflower Appeal”.

Managing Director at Bridge Cheese, Michael Harte said: “We are delighted this Christmas to be supporting the awareness of the Lingen Davies Sunflower Appeal in bringing a much-needed new cancer centre at the Princess Royal Hospital. As a Telford based business we are honoured to be part of this fundraising effort that will benefit our local community. Cancer affects so many people and this facility will be invaluable with helping those affected during what is a very stressful and worrying period of time.”

Working in collaboration with the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, the Lingen Davies Sunflower Appeal, is part of the wider, ongoing Hospital Transformation Programme.

No taxpayer funding has been used for the design, manufacturing or delivery of the card. The card is being delivered by Royal Mail.