A family from Codsall is thanking everyone in their community for helping to raise thousands of pounds to bring state-of-the-art cancer treatment to Birmingham.

Viv Edwards, 64, and her family are supporting the QE Cancer Appeal which aims to buy a CyberKnife system for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This revolutionary technology is a non-invasive alternative to open surgery and will help patients with previously inoperable or surgically complex tumours.

The family has raised over £9,000 for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and is campaigning for this treatment to be made available to NHS patients in the Midlands, in memory of Viv’s brother Kym Carpenter.

Viv, who lives with her husband Doug, 68, in Codsall, explained: “Kym was just 47 when he died from cancer in September 2009. During the time he was ill we enquired about CyberKnife treatment but his cancer was sadly too far advanced for him to benefit. We set up the Kym Carpenter Memorial Fund because we are determined to help other families in the Midlands whose loved ones are battling cancer. Although it was sadly too late to save Kym we hope our fundraising for the QEHB Charity and our awareness campaign will save someone else’s life.”

If the £3.5 million appeal is successful, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be the only UK hospital outside London with a CyberKnife.

Grandmother-of-four Viv added: “My sons Brett, Earl and Lee and daughter Katrina and their families have been brilliant at fundraising and we want to thank everyone in the community who has come to our events or made a donation. We really have been touched by the number of people in South Staffs who care.

“We know this is a big mission but that’s fitting because Kym had a big personality and he’s left a big hole in our lives. As well as fundraising to bring a CyberKnife to Birmingham we’re also campaigning to make this amazing treatment available to NHS patients. Currently only private patients have access to it so we’re petitioning the Government in the hope of helping other families.”

Mike Hammond, QEHB Charity Chief Executive, added: “A huge thanks to Viv and her family and everyone in the Codsall community for all their hard work and generous donations in support of CyberKnife. With your help this amazing therapy can give those with tumours that are difficult to treat with conventional radiation a better chance at life.”

To make a donation or find out more about the appeal and how you can help patients with cancer, please visit the QE Cancer Appeal website or contact the team on 0121 371 4852. 

To support the Kym Carpenter Memorial Fund or sign the petition please visit the Kym Carpenter Memorial Fund website.