A LEADING Basingstoke company has become the latest organisation to support the charity involved in raising funds for a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre.

Accounting and business advisory group Baker Tilly has made Ark Cancer Centre Charity its charity of the year for 2015.

Staff at the company’s Springpark House office, on Basing View, will now be involved in supporting the charity which is seeking to raise £5million towards the £18.5m cancer treatment centre that will serve people in Basingstoke and Deane and surrounding areas.

While most of the funds for the centre – the preferred location for which is off Junction 7 of the M3 near North Waltham – will come from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the charity’s £5m appeal will ensure that patients and their loved ones can receive enhanced supportive care in a state-of-the-art environment.

Mike Blain, office managing partner at Baker Tilly, in Basingstoke, said his 60-strong team are pleased to be supporting a local charity that will make a life-changing difference to local people.

He said: “The money raised by Ark Cancer Centre Charity will ensure that the new cancer treatment centre can deliver the supportive care services, and the enhanced environment, that will make a crucial difference to the care offered to patients and their families.

“As a company that is proud to have a strong commitment to the Basingstoke area, our staff are delighted to support a charity that will make a telling contribution to the health and well-being of local people. We look forward to helping to raise funds for, and awareness of, the charity and the cancer treatment centre project.”

Merv Rees, a trustee of Ark Cancer Centre Charity, welcomed the company’s support.

He said: “Our mission is to help to create a unique cancer treatment centre – a beacon facility that will deliver the cancer care that people in Basingstoke and Deane need and deserve.

“This centre is being built for the people, by the people, and that is why the support of the team at Baker Tilly, and other organisations, is so important, and very much appreciated.”

If any other companies or organisations would like to support Ark Cancer Centre Charity, they should contact Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at the charity, on mark.jones@arkcancercharity.org.uk or by calling 01256 360419.