Hope for Tomorrow receives Royal invitation
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Charity’s vital cancer care work supported 1,820 Gloucestershire patients last year
22 April 2025, Gloucestershire: Pioneering mobile cancer care charity, Gloucestershire-based Hope for Tomorrow, has been invited to attend a community reception, hosted by HM The King and HM The Queen, on the 30 April at Buckingham Palace.
The exclusive invitation follows Hope for Tomorrow’s own royal event in October last year, held at the Honourable Artillery Company, the historic home of the oldest regiment in the British Army.
Attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, along with representatives from businesses, trusts and other foundations, this special event highlighted the charity’s mission to bring cancer care closer to patients through their mobile units - saving them both travel and hospital-related costs. It also underlined the support it provides NHS trusts by easing pressure on oncology departments across the country.
This month the Palace reception is being held in celebration of community-based cancer support initiatives raising awareness of the needs of cancer patients. Members of the Hope for Tomorrow team, along with staff, supporters, volunteers, and partners of the charity have been invited by the Royal Family to attend, alongside Tina Seymour, CEO of Hope for Tomorrow.
Tina said: “We are incredibly proud to be part of such a prestigious occasion. It follows our special event last year attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Our recent royal recognition is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team, who work tirelessly to ensure that our mobile cancer care and support services reach patients across the country.
“Of course, this incredible work would not be possible without the support of our team, our amazing fundraisers, event sponsors and corporate partners. Whether through Pay for a Day donations, which fund one of our units for a day, participation in and sponsorship of our Cuppa for Cancer Care campaign, which takes place each February, or the brilliant efforts of our individual fundraisers - each contribution is vital to our commitment to bring cancer care closer."
Founded in 2002, by the late Christine Mills MBE to drive cancer care forward, in 2007 Hope for Tomorrow launched the world’s first mobile cancer care unit, known to its team, nurses and patients as ‘Helen’. After nearly 20 years of service, the unit has recently undergone an upgrade and was launched at a special event held at Gloucester Rugby Club earlier this month.
In partnership with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Helen treated over 1,820 patients in the county last year, making their lives that much easier at a difficult time.
Hope for Tomorrow has 14 units and support vehicles across England and partnerships with nine NHS hospital trusts. Each unit can provide cancer care to up to four patients at a time and an average of 20 patients a day, with a total of 26,760 patient visits across 42 locations between 2023 and 2024. 50% of these patients saved over £6 per visit on parking and reduced their travel by an average of 17.4 miles. On average they saved 2.5 hours per treatment.
Over half said it improved their chances of completing their treatment and 93% found it more convenient to have their cancer care on the mobile unit – giving their experience an overall rating of 4.91 out of 5.
Tina added: “The last few years have been incredibly difficult for the charity sector with individual donations down on average around 50%, as the cost-of-living crisis persists. This comes as cancer diagnoses continue to rise. As a charity we have remained incredibly agile to support our fundraisers and corporate partners, and, as a result, we’ve launched a ‘Special Edition Corporate Sponsorship Pack’ in honour of this event with unique ways for businesses to get involved. We’ve also designed a special edition Hope for Tomorrow brooch, which we will be proudly wearing at the Royal reception as a symbol of support.
“Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of everyone we have managed to continue to invest in our services. From originally offering treatments, we now support the NHS with diagnoses and screening too. Exciting innovations include the recent launch of the world’s largest mobile lung assessment unit in Manchester in partnership with Cobalt Health, bringing cancer screening and diagnosis closer to communities.”
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Editors notes
For more information on this press announcement please contact Verity Blake or David Ferguson at HeadOn PR: -
For images and assets to support this announcement, please visit the Hope for Tomorrow virtual newsroom here where you’ll find: -
- Images of the Hope for Tomorrow mobile units
- Images of attendees
- Headshot of Tina Seymour, CEO Hope for Tomorrow
- Hope for Tomorrow logo
About Hope for Tomorrow
Hope for Tomorrow is a pioneering national charity based in Gloucestershire, founded in 2002 by Christine Mills OBE. In partnership with nine NHS Trusts, the charity has a fleet of 14 mobile cancer care units and support vehicles across England, bringing vital cancer services into communities. Its mission is to help people fit cancer care into their lives - rather than the other way around - saving patients time, travel, and cost, while easing the burden on NHS oncology departments. The world’s first mobile cancer care unit, Helen, was launched in 2007 by patron Sir Stirling Moss, setting the standard for a more accessible approach to cancer care, which is more convenient for and closer to the patients that need it.
Between 2023 and 2024, the charity’s units provided a space for more than 26,760 patient visits across 42 locations, with each unit treating up to 20 people a day. Hope for Tomorrow’s mobile cancer care units not only eliminate long hospital waits and travel times but also provides a welcoming, community-led environment - often set up in convenient locations like supermarket car parks, garden centres or community hospitals. Patients report significant benefits: 70% say they tolerate treatment better on the mobile units, over half believe it increases their chance of completing treatment, and many save on parking and fuel costs. The units currently serve regions including Gloucestershire, South Wiltshire, Kent, Suffolk, Essex, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk.
Entirely reliant on charitable donations, Hope for Tomorrow raises funds through national campaigns and events like its flagship fundraiser, Cuppa for Cancer Care, launched in 2023 by Gloria Hunniford, and its annual Walk of Hope. Supporters can also fund a full day of treatment through Pay for a Day or take part in corporate sponsorships. Under the leadership of CEO Tina Seymour and a committed group of trustees, the charity continues to transform cancer care, including treatment, diagnosis and screening - making it more patient-centric, local, and life-enhancing for thousands across the country.
