> Scottish Football Legend Donates £113,000 to Fight Cervical Cancer
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Scottish Football Legend Donates £113,000 to Fight Cervical Cancer
Scottish football legend Willie Henderson today (Thursday, 19 November) unveiled a plaque at the New Victoria Hospital marking a £113,000 donation from the Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust.
The trust was the vision of Willie's daughter Michelle who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2010. Michelle fought the disease before passing away on her 28th birthday on 1 October, 2012.
The donation has helped the Women & Children's Directorateat NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) to buy:
Two new ultrasound machines
A new image capture system
10 new sets of colposcopy instruments
A new camera system
Dedicated scopes to use with the camera system
Two new patient treatment couches for Gynaecology.
Willie, a trustee of the charity, said: "Michelle set up the trust to give something back to those who had helped her during her treatment. She wanted to raise awareness of cervical cancer and raise funds towards hospital equipment, medicines and support groups for women suffering from the illness.
"The support Michelle's trust has received through donations and people's time has been wonderful. I hope the equipment bought from the trust's donation will have a positive impact on women's health across Glasgow, but it's important we make sure women are attending screening appointments. Not only was Michelle battling the illness, she was also doing as much as she could to heighten awareness of cervical cancer.
"The trust works to raise awareness of cervical cancer and to encourage as many women as possible to take up every screen opportunity available. All women in Scotland aged 20-60 are invited for cervical screening every three years, however it's extremely worrying that, in some areas, one in three women are not attending screening.
"I'd encourage every single person who is eligible to get screened. Don't be embarrassed or put it off; screening could save your life."
Jamie Redfern, Women & Children's Service General Manager, NHSGGC, said: "This wonderful donation from the Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust will further improve our services at both the New Victoria Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
"We're grateful not only for the additional equipment, but the message that the trust is sharing through its work to raise awareness of the health benefits of regular cervical screening.
"Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and regular screening prevents eight out of ten cancers developing.
"It's worrying that in some areas approximately one in three women is not having their regular cervical screening. Research shows the main barriers stopping women from attending cervical screening are fear, embarrassment and pain.
"Regular cervical screening is the best way for women to protect themselves against cervical cancer. The test takes less than five minutes but saves around 5,000 lives annually across Scotland so I join Willie in urging all eligible women to take up the offer of screening."
The Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust is run by unpaid volunteers and exists solely through generous donations. For further details, please see: www.michellehendersoncervicalcancertrust.co.uk
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer amongst women aged 35 and under in the UK. Three women die every day in the UK from cervical cancer and in each year around 2,800 are newly diagnosed with the disease.
More information on cervical screening is available from NHS 24. Visit www.nhs24.com/cervicalscreening or call the helpline on 0800 22 44 88.
For further media information either telephone 0141 201 4429 or email [email protected]