A former patient has turned a private milestone into a public gesture of thanks for services at the North West Cancer Centre in Derry, donating £1,200 after asking guests at his 80th birthday celebration to contribute to the unit instead of bringing presents.
Community celebration becomes fundraiser for local care
Bob Dunlop celebrated his 80th birthday at Ardstraw Football Club in Newtowstewart with family and friends. In lieu of gifts he requested donations to the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital, a decision that produced a collective gift of £1,200 to the Western Health & Social Care Trust facility.
The donation was formally acknowledged by the North West Cancer Centre and highlights the close ties between patients, their families and the regional hospital that serves much of the north-west of Northern Ireland.
Recognition for local oncology team
Mr Dunlop used the occasion to express his gratitude to the clinical team that cared for him during his time as a patient. In particular he singled out Consultant Oncologist Professor David Stewart and Clinical Nurse Specialist Hazel Templeton, and was joined for the presentation by Clinical Nurse Specialist Naomi Casson.
"expressed his thanks to his Consultant, Professor David Stewart and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hazel Templeton for the care and support they provided during his time as a patient."
The naming of individual clinicians underlines how personal relationships with staff can motivate local fundraising and public acknowledgment of care. Such gestures also provide hospital departments with unrestricted funds that can be used flexibly to support patients and services.
Small donation, visible impact
While the amount donated — £1,200 — is modest in absolute terms, it demonstrates how community-led fundraising contributes to the life and morale of local health services. The Western Trust has regularly relied on donations and charity partnerships to enhance patient comforts and fund supplementary equipment or support programmes beyond core budgets.
- Donor: former patient Mr Bob Dunlop
- Occasion: 80th birthday celebration at Ardstraw Football Club, Newtowstewart
- Beneficiary: North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Hospital (Western Health & Social Care Trust)
- Amount: £1,200
- Staff acknowledged: Prof David Stewart, Hazel Templeton, Naomi Casson
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Donor | Bob Dunlop |
| Occasion | 80th birthday |
| Location of celebration | Ardstraw Football Club, Newtowstewart |
| Recipient | North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry |
| Amount | £1,200 |
The presentation, attended by the donor and members of the oncology team, was described by the Western Trust as an expression of thanks. For local patients and families, the public acknowledgement also serves to highlight the human element of cancer care in the city and surrounding areas.
As services across Northern Ireland continue to face financial pressures and rising demand, donations — large and small — remain a visible way communities can support frontline teams. The contribution from Mr Dunlop and his circle is a reminder of the role of informal community fundraising in sustaining patient-centred initiatives at regional health centres.
Photographs supplied with the acknowledgement show Mr Dunlop and his wife Lizzy alongside Prof David Stewart and Clinical Nurse Specialists Hazel Templeton and Naomi Casson. Both Mr and Mrs Dunlop expressed gratitude to friends and family for their generosity in marking the occasion.
The Western Trust said it welcomed the donation, which will support the work of staff at the North West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin, a central facility for cancer diagnosis and treatment for people across Derry and the wider north-west.
