The funds were left over from a community fundraising campaign to send Orange multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer Trudy Swain to Russia to  receive stem cell therapy at Moscow’s National Pirogov Medical Surgical Centre in June.

Fundraising committee chair Malcolm McDonald said when the committee was formed it set a target and pledged any surplus funds would go to a community project.

“When we set that figure of $80,000 we never imagined we would go above that, its been amazing,” he said.

Mr McDonald toured the Western Care Lodge, which is now tightly linked with fundraising for cancer clinical trials at Orange, and was impressed.

“I am absolutely blown away with the level of accommodation and support available here,” he said.

“I have family members at the moment who are having to use accommodation while they get treatment at other hospitals, and there’s absolutely no comparison with the standard, it’s wonderful here.”

With the cost of maintenance and running the cancer patients’ accommodation facility secure, Cancer Care Western NSW continues to extend funding towards the clinical trials with any additional donations.

Tuesday’s donation will be used to support the current trials in Orange involving 77 cancer patients who have breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer.

Orange now has a clinical trials team involving three oncologists, a haematologist, trial manager, trial nurse and trial co-ordinator.

Trial co-ordinator Alison Coote was emotional yesterday when the donation was handed over.

“We are so appreciative and this means we can continue to maintain and support the efforts of securing additional trials to Orange for the western  region,” she said.

“This week I have opened four envelopes from people who believe in these trials and want to do what they can to make sure they continue and can expand.

“It is very emotional for everyone who is involved because we are so grateful for the support.”

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au