21 Nov We’ve donated to our local breast cancer unit

This week, we were delighted to donate a years’ worth of cash raised at charity events we hosted throughout 2022-23 and through a percentage of beer sales to The Mermaid Centre Fund, part of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske.

We were so happy to give a total of £5338.04 to The Mermaid Centre Fund which will help buy vital equipment, train staff, and achieve more lifesaving early diagnoses. 

The Mermaid Centre is a purpose-built diagnostic facility which is home to the Cornwall Breast Screening Programme (NHS BSP) and the Oncoplastic Breast Unit; thousands of men and women are diagnosed and treated here every year.

Our Landlady Louise Treseder said: “Every year we choose a charity partner, raising funds for causes close to our hearts with a varied programme of fun, community events hosted in the pub. Sadly we’ve had quite few customers – both male and female – diagnosed with breast cancer recently. All have been treated by the Mermaid Centre. It’s really important to us that these facilities remain in Cornwall and continue to offer such an excellent and supportive service.”

The donation was handed over in person by Driftwood regular ‘Bomber’ (aka Paul Sowden) who was himself treated by The Mermaid Centre recently.

Paul said: “It was an absolute honour to deliver the funds raised by my fabulous local to The Mermaid Centre today. Both have done excellent work supporting me in my diagnosis and recovery – The Mermaid Centre providing the highest quality care, and Lou and all my friends at The Drifty helping me keep my chin up through it all. We’re lucky to have such a community-focused pub in the village which goes out of its way to help people and support local good causes.”

All fundraising contributions like The Driftwood’s go towards ensuring the Centre can provide the best possible care for patients at an incredibly difficult time in their lives.

Amy Aucott, Interim Community Fundraiser for Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, said: “The significant funds raised by Lou and her team will go towards providing new equipment, enhancing the environment of the unit itself, and providing additional specialist training for our staff – all so we can provide the very best care that we possibly can for our patients.” 

Each year The Driftwood Spars raises money for a different cause through our various events including quiz nights, raffles, and an unwanted Christmas gift exchange; on top of this, 10p from every pint sold of the pub’s own ‘Spars’ beer goes into the fundraising pot.

The next recipients of the pub’s generosity will be Man Down and Georgia’s Voice – two local charities which support men and women battling depression and poor mental health in Cornwall.