A GLOUCESTERSHIRE-based charity which launched the world’s first Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU) is now bringing treatment closer to home for thousands of cancer patients across England.

The Hope for Tomorrow charity, which provides MCUs to NHS Trusts in eight rural counties across the UK, has saved cancer patients the stress of travelling about 500,000 miles.

The charity is launching its Chemotherapy in the Community Week on December 1st, to raise awareness and vital funds to supply more MCUs and keep existing units on the road.

An MCU has been travelling to Cinderford, Cirencester, Stroud and Tewkesbury since 2007, helping thousands of cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy in the unit.

Each MCU, which costs £260,000 to build and maintain for three years, can treat up to 20 patients a day, delivering up to 2,000 treatments a year.

Hope for Tomorrow also supplies each trust with a car so chemotherapy nurses can travel between Oncology Centre and the MCU’s rural locations

Former Bond-girl, actress Fiona Fullerton, is supporting the campaign.

Fiona, who recently moved to Cheltenham, said: “My grandmother died of breast cancer, my husband's first wife died of ovarian cancer and two of my dearest girlfriends have been recently diagnosed, which has shocked me greatly.

“I know how much additional stress having to travel long distances for chemotherapy can impact on people already battling hard against this hideous disease. By bringing cancer treatment closer to home, it not only saves patients travelling long distances, but it removes the additional stress of having to go to hospital.

To find out more about how to keep the Gloucestershire MCU on the road, visit http://www.hopefortomorrow.org.uk/