Local Cancer Survivor Receives Royal Invitation

Hope for Tomorrow charity’s vital cancer care work supported

over 2,500 patients in West Suffolk and more than 4,000 in East Suffolk and North Essex last year

29 April 2025, Kent: Rachel Mann, a breast cancer survivor from Great Waldingfield in Sudbury, Suffolk, has been invited by pioneering mobile cancer care charity, Hope for Tomorrow, to attend a Royal community reception this month hosted by HM The King and HM The Queen.

The exclusive event on 30 April at Buckingham Palace is being held in celebration of community-based cancer support initiatives raising awareness of the needs of patients.

It follows Hope for Tomorrow’s royal recognition by HRH Prince Michael of Kent at the charity’s special event in October last year, held at the Honourable Artillery Company, the historic home of the oldest regiment in the British Army.

Rachel’s invitation recognises not only her inspiring personal journey but her continued dedication to supporting the charity’s mission - to bring vital cancer treatment closer to communities with groundbreaking mobile care units. This saves patients both travel and hospital-related costs while easing pressure on NHS oncology departments across the country.

In 2017, Rachel underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment aboard Frisbey, the charity’s mobile cancer care unit at Sudbury Community Health Centre. The unit is named in memory of the grandmother of Martin Brundle, a patron of Hope for Tomorrow, who lost her life to cancer.

Since then, Rachel has been a volunteer dedicating herself to advocating for the charity and raising awareness about the importance of Hope for Tomorrow's work.

Rachel, who was diagnosed with cancer at just 39, will join members of the Hope for Tomorrow team alongside Tina Seymour, CEO of Hope for Tomorrow, and patients, volunteers and NHS partners, at the Palace reception this month to acknowledge her strength and commitment to helping make a difference.

Rachel said: “Cancer completely disrupts your day-to-day life - it becomes a constant cycle of hospital visits, leaving little room for anything else.

“It was really important for me to keep my work life as normal as possible throughout treatment. Having Frisbey come to Sudbury Community Health Centre every Thursday made a huge difference. I could step away from my desk, have my ten-minute chemotherapy session, and be back at work within 45 minutes.”

Hope for Tomorrow partners with nine NHS trusts across England, operating Frisbey as one of its 14 mobile treatment units and support vehicles nationwide.

Stationed at West Suffolk Hospital in partnership with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Frisbey visits Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Thetford, and saw 2,540 patients last year.

The charity has a second unit in the region, Maureen, located in Colchester General Hospital in partnership with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Maureen travels between Halstead, Manningtree, Stanway and Tiptree and last year was visited by 4,086 local patients. 

Rachel continued: “On the rare occasions I had to travel to West Suffolk Hospital, I’d be away from work for most of the morning. Being able to avoid those long trips made such a difference. Thanks to Hope for Tomorrow’s fantastic mobile unit, I was able to maintain a fairly regular presence at work and hold on to much of my normal daily routine.

“I was completely overwhelmed when I received the call from Tina inviting me to attend Buckingham Palace. It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be attending as part of Team Hope for Tomorrow. The work the charity does has such a massive impact on the daily lives of cancer patients and it’s wonderful that it’s been recognised in this way.”

Tina Seymour, CEO of Hope for Tomorrow, said: “We are incredibly proud to be attending 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, and 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."

Hope for Tomorrow’s units 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 visit.

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 ‘Royal 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

Hope for Tomorrow is a pioneering national charity based in Gloucestershire, founded in 2003 by Christine Mills OBE. In partnership with nine NHS Trusts, the charity operates more than 14 mobile cancer care units and support vehicles across England, bringing vital treatment into communities. Its mission is to help people fit treatment 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 treatment that’s closer to patients’ homes.

Between 2023 and 2024, the charity’s units cared for 26,760 patients across 42 locations, with each unit treating up to 20 people a day. Onboard treatment not only eliminates long hospital waits and travel times but also provides a welcoming, community-led environment - often set up in convenient locations like supermarket car parks 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 Wing Walk. 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 patrons, the charity continues to transform cancer care delivery, including treatment, diagnosis and screening - making it more personal, local, and life-enhancing for thousands across the country.