Mass demonstration in Kendal to hand over radiotherapy petition
South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, has today announced that on Saturday 3rd March the community will formally hand over the radiotherapy petition to NHS bosses who will decide on Westmorland General Hospital's bid for a radiotherapy unit.
The demonstration will start at 12:30pm at Abbott Hall park, moving through the Arch, ontoDowkers Laneand then onto Highgate. The march will then move down Highgate, finishing at the Birdcage in the centre of Kendal.
The plan is then to hold a rally at the Birdcage and then formally hand over the petition to health bosses. Professor John Ashton,Cumbria's Director of Public Health will receive the petition on behalf of the NHS.
Over 8,000 people have now signed the petition to bring radiotherapy services toWestmorland GeneralHospital. Tim will be writing to everyone who has signed the petition asking them to come and add their support to the march.
The Westmorland Gazette is also supporting the march as part of their 'Longer Lives, Shorter Journeys campaign' which they have been running in conjunction with Tim.
Commenting, Tim said: "Last year we secured a chemotherapy centre for Westmorland General Hospital. For me that was just half the battle. We now need radiotherapy services to bring a fully functioning cancer treatment centre to the South Lakes. And I will not stop fighting till we get it!"
If health bosses face a sea of thousands of people who stand in front of them all calling for radiotherapy services, how can that not sway them? In the last 10 years as a health campaigner I have never seen such a response to a campaign. Please come and help us to win this campaign - your presence on this march is crucial, together we can make the difference."