THE Sunrise Appeal celebrated a remarkable 25 years of fundraising at a special event held on Thursday, April 3 at The Alverton Hotel in Truro.

The event marked a significant milestone in the charity’s journey, which has so far raised over £3.7-million to support the Sunrise Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in providing world class cancer treatment to local patients.

“It was an incredible evening, full of reflection and gratitude,” said Janet Shephard, trustee and co-founder of the Sunrise Appeal.

“We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the unwavering support of the Cornish community. In the past 25 years we have contributed £2.9-million to the centre, keeping equipment and technologies cutting edge, and providing educational bursaries for oncology staff. The generosity of this community has made a very real difference to the lives of cancer patients in Cornwall.”

The celebration brought together supporters, volunteers, and key figures from the charity’s history to reflect on the achievements of the past 25 years.

This included BBC Cornwall, which has been a supporter since the charity's founding, and played a key role in leading the 'Donate £1' campaign, aimed at raising the initial £500,000 target by asking for just £1 from each of Cornwall's 500,000 residents.

The evening provided an opportunity to honour the community’s contributions and acknowledge the many individuals who have played a role in the Sunrise Appeal’s success. Colin Micklewright, treasurer and trustee, expressed his deep appreciation for the local support.

“We are truly humbled by the incredible generosity we’ve received over the last 25 years,” said Colin.

“This celebration was a chance for us to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together and look ahead to the continued work needed to provide the best cancer treatment possible in Cornwall. We couldn’t have done it without the dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and donors.”

The event also highlighted some of the key advancements the Sunrise Appeal has supported over the years, including the recent introduction of Surface Guided Radiotherapy. Additionally, the team announced their next £400,000 grant to the Centre.

As the Sunrise Appeal looks ahead to the next chapter, it remains committed to ensuring that Cornwall continues to be at the forefront of cancer care, providing patients with local access to world class treatment technologies and the highest level of care.