Over £2 million raised by Weston Park Cancer Charity for new MRI simulator
South Yorkshire's first MRI simulator dedicated to cancer is designed to save and improve lives for years to come
South Yorkshire is set to secure its first MRI simulator dedicated to cancer, thanks to Weston Park Cancer Charity’s ‘see it. treat it.’ appeal.
The charity announced it had raised £2,151,030 today, at an event which marked the end of both the appeal and the 2026 Master Cutler’s Challenge.
With its superior imaging capabilities, the new MRI simulator will enable clinicians to target tumours with even greater precision, while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
By enhancing the accuracy of radiotherapy, the breakthrough scanner will ensure people in our region can access the very best treatment closer to home.
As well as improving and saving lives, the machine will attract top medical talent to Weston Park Cancer Centre and create novel opportunities for research at the hospital.
Weston Park Cancer Charity had originally set out to raise £1.85 million through the ‘see it. treat it.’ appeal. But, a tremendous final push from its supporters took the charity above and beyond its target.
The additional funds raised will be used to invest in future cancer research and treatment enhancements for patients at Weston Park Cancer Centre.
This includes bringing some of the brightest minds in healthcare to Sheffield: funds raised will cover the first-year costs of two highly specialised staff members who will manage and run the scanner.
Emma Clarke, CEO of Weston Park Cancer Charity, said:
“When I think of the many individuals and organisations represented in this £2.15 million fundraising total, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and pride.
“This achievement shows what we can do when we come together to enact change. It demonstrates the generosity of our region and its commitment to advancing cancer care for local people.
“One in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer. The new MRI simulator will help more people to survive that diagnosis. It will keep families together for longer and improve the quality of life for patients for years to come.
“Thank you to everyone who got involved. Your support has made a life-saving difference.”
Dr Kash Purohit, Chair of the Appeal Board, Patron of Weston Park Cancer Charity and Retired Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Weston Park Cancer Centre, said:
“I’m so proud to announce that we have raised £2.15 million for this fantastic machine, which will benefit patients all across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, and North Nottinghamshire.
“The new MRI simulator will enable us to lower the treatment volume for many patients and reduce treatment-related side effects.
“I’m very grateful to all the supporters, the charity staff, and to my fellow Appeal Board members who have supported this project for the last two years.”
The charity’s long-term supporter Westfield Health played a vital role in the appeal by doubling donations up to £500,000 – the largest donation in the organisation’s history.
Dave Capper, CEO of Westfield Health, said:
“We joined the ‘see it. treat it.’ appeal because we wanted to be a catalyst for change that would raise the aspirations of our region.
“The new MRI simulator is an important step forward in our mission to put Sheffield on the global map of preventative health, and we know it will change so many lives for the better.
“When we pledged to double donations, we hoped to motivate others and inspire them to give back. Our community did itself proud and it’s fantastic to celebrate this collective achievement today.”
Since launching publicly in May 2025, the ‘see it. treat it.’ appeal has inspired the support of 1,220 individuals, 83 organisations and businesses, and 57 volunteers.
This included the recent Master Cutler’s Challenge, which raised £170,353 in aid of the MRI simulator.
In this iconic entrepreneurial challenge, individuals and teams go head-to-head to raise as much as they can from £50 of seed funding.
Hawsons won this year’s coveted Master Cutler’s Award. They reached their £6,730.40 fundraising total by doing the Peak District Ultra Marathon, a football tournament and running the Sheffield 10K.
With the ‘see it. treat it.’ appeal now successfully concluded, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can purchase the new MRI simulator, recruit additional team members, and start creating a dedicated suite for patients.