The largest online sex toy retailer in the UK, Bath’s Lovehoney, is donating £7,000 to The Forever Friends Appeal at the RUH, split between the RUH’s Cancer Care Campaign and the hospital’s Sexual Health Clinic.
Founded in 2002 and based in Bath, Lovehoney is growing rapidly across the world as a retailer, manufacturer and distributor and was recently awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
Lovehoney are new supporters to The Forever Friends Appeal and are particularly passionate about raising funds towards the Campaign to help build a pioneering new Cancer Centre.
The charity needs to secure a minimum of £8.5million towards the build of an exceptional new Cancer Centre for patients and their families.
Each year the RUH cares for 2,200 new patients with cancer from the hospital’s extensive catchment area. The clinical care is amongst the best in the UK, but the cancer unit facilities are outdated and do not provide patients with the optimum environment necessary to support the healing process.
The hospital’s vision is to build a Cancer Centre which will balance clinical expertise with the provision of a nurturing and therapeutic environment.
Beccy Gregory from Lovehoney’s Ministry of Giving said: “We chose to support the RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal as we all seem to know someone whose life has been affected by cancer.
“The plans for the Cancer Care Centre in Bath look amazing. What a fantastic initiative to be a part of. We look forward to seeing the centre up and running.”
In addition to giving a gift to the Cancer Care Campaign, Lovehoney is committed to promoting positive sexual health care, Richard Longhurst, Co-owner of Lovehoney explained: “The RUH Sexual Health Clinic does a fantastic job of supporting hundreds of people in and around Bath with everything from sexual health advice to treatment.
“We’re delighted to be able to help a local service that so strongly echoes our sexual health and happiness ethos.”
The donation to the hospital’s Sexual Health Clinic, which due to the cause’s nature can sometimes be overlooked by charity supporters, will assist the RUH in helping to provide and promote sexual health services to the local community.
Debbie Chadbon, RUH Sexual Health Advisor said: “Support and promotion of the RUH’s Sexual Health Clinic educates and equips people with the knowledge to seek medical help when necessary and to practice safe sex, therefore caring for their own sexual health and their partners.”
Corporate Officer for The Forever Friends Appeal, Jo Common, said: “Raising significant funds for our new Cancer Centre and supporting vital services such as the RUH’s Sexual Health Clinic would not be possible without companies like Lovehoney.
“Everyone at The Forever Friends Appeal and the RUH are extremely appreciative for all their hard work and support they have given to charity. Lovehoney’s donation will contribute to further improving care for our patients and their families; for this we cannot thank them enough.”
If you would like to support The Forever Friends Appeal through your company, visit www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or call Jo Common on 01225 825392.
