Tireless charity fundraiser steps down after more than 30 years
The face of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG) in West Wiltshire has retired as chairman of its Trowbridge branch after several decades with the charity.
Tino Polledri steps down after 33 years on the local committee during which time the small branch has raised more than £600,000 for the cancer unit at Bath’s Royal United Hospital (RUH).
Tino, who was branch chairman for 30 years, has also retired as a trustee of the main charity, having been vice chair for many years.
Mike Taylor, chairman of the BCUSG’s trustees said: “We all owe a huge debt to Tino who has been inspirational and hard working for all of those years.
“The substantial sums which he has helped to raise have made huge differences to many of those who have received cancer treatment at the RUH during the last few decades.
“Much of the equipment which he helped us to purchase will be in use for a number of years yet, so future and current patients are benefitting from his hard work. I will really miss his wise advice at trustees’ meetings and his boundless enthusiasm.”
Tino is not retiring completely, however, and says he will continue to help whenever needed at BCUSG fundraising events.
Tino said: "My time as chairman of the Trowbridge branch and vice chair of trustees of the BCUSG has been very rewarding over the years and with the outstanding support of my committee, I believe we have achieved a great deal. It's a highlight every time that we can purchase new equipment for the RUH.
"Colleagues, friends and the public have always supported our fundraising events and have been extremely helpful when needed. Looking back, it has been a great time and I am extremely proud to have been associated with the BCUSG.”
Would you like to help continue Tino's work?
To donate to the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, or to discuss becoming a corporate partner, please email Alan Webb at fundraising@bcusg.org or phone 07896 741233.
Bethany Mogan - Media
Thanks are also given to Bethany who has resigned as a Trustee. Bethany has been instrumental in setting up and maintaining our Twitter and Facebook accounts over the past three years.
Thanks to Stephanie Cole
Unfortunately, Stephanie Cole has had to step down as President of the Charity. Our thanks go to her for the events which she has attended, and given her support to during her time with us.
New President - Stephanie Cole OBE
Stephanie Cole was welcomed as our new President in November 2018. Stephanie will be known for the many wonderful, diverse range of characters she has played over the years – in the theatre, films and on television - from a doctor in the 1980’s series Tenko to the
formidable Mrs Featherstone in both Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours. Very recently Stephanie took part in a live performance on television of “Inside No 9 – Dead Line” and will play opposite Timothy West in King Lear at the Bristol Old Vic during 2019.
Mike Taylor - Chair
Welcome Message
Welcome to the new website which I hope you will find is more user friendly and make it easier for donations to be made via the Donate page.
A couple of new sections have been added – one dealing with our new projects and the other all our News stories which can also be viewed on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The Trustees have a good working relationship with the Cancer Unit’s consultants and nursing staff and it is from them that new projects will be suggested. It constantly surprises me the ingenuity of some of the items of equipment which we are asked to support. Many of these
items achieve huge gains for the patients, both in terms of the quality of the diagnosis or treatment and its effectiveness and also in reducing the length of time that these treatments take which can then of course have an impact on reducing waiting times.
During my time as Chair, I am keen to encourage new branches to be established to cover all areas under the RUH’s remit. We have a very successful branch in Trowbridge which carries out fundraising activities there as well as Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Westbury and the surrounding villages.
Meet the Trustees
Mike Coombs – Treasurer
Sue Coppin
Jo Crowe
Les Dymond
Caroline Gilleece
Alex Herring
Jane Margetts - Supportline
Sue Oliver - Vice-Chair
Sally Pinner – Secretary
Mike Taylor - Chair
Alan Webb – Fundraiser
SPONSORS
Thanks are given to our sponsors:
Pearson May Accountants
Novia Foundation - providing year long sponsorship of the flowers in A12
Save more lives by helping with our fundraising, donate today