North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust
The North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust (NCCCT)
was formed in 1988 at a time when there were very few charities on
the island. Its founder members were the late
Revd Canon Arthur Rider, who served at St Andrew’s Church in Girne,
Sonia Halliday and Laura Lushington.
Over the years, the NCCCT has continued to
flourish and has provided much‑needed medical equipment
specifically to help cancer patients in Girne State Hospital and
Lefkoşa State Hospital. However,
other patients can also benefit from some of the equipment purchased
by the NCCCT. An example of this is the cardiac
equipment; cancer patients are given priority but it remains
available for everyone’s use.
In 2013 the NCCCT were particularly pleased to
present Girne State Hospital with a digital dermatoscopy system,
namely a MoleMax, which is an essential tool for attempting early
diagnosis of melanoma. Other purchases include
eye and surgical equipment, endoscopes, laparoscopic instruments,
physiotherapy ultrasound devices and a blood centrifuge machine.
In 2016 the NCCCT presented equipment worth just over 88,000
lira to the hospital.
Regular fundraising events are held by the
NCCCT. These include a monthly coffee morning,
usually held at a well‑known hotel or restaurant.
Premises are used free of charge and often the venue will
provide tea/coffee and cakes, for which the NCCCT is always
grateful.
A bingo session is held at The Lodge in Ҫatalköy.
It takes place every Tuesday in the summer and every Sunday
in the winter. A quiz night is held every
Thursday at The Lodge in Ҫatalköy.
The NCCCT’s second‑hand shops in
Girne sell clothes, books, bric‑a‑brac and
household items. Heartbeat, situated in the old
Girne hospital, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
from 9.00am to 1pm. The Hut, located behind Girne
Post Office, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9.30am until lunchtime.
Heartbeat and The Hut are both staffed by volunteers and the
NCCCT rely on the generosity of the general public for providing
donations.
All members of the NCCCT committee are
volunteers and no expenses are taken, meaning that every lira raised
can be used to buy vital equipment. The hospital
will request a specific piece of equipment and the purchase is
subsequently dealt with directly through the supplier and the
NCCCT’s bank.
The NCCCT acknowledges that without the
kindness and generosity of the general public, and the dedication of
its team of volunteers, it would be unable to contribute to the
health and welfare of the people of this country.
Can you spare a few hours each week?
Would you like to join our team of volunteers? If so, please
contact the NCCCT chairperson Angela Hasman on 0533 865 0758 or
email nccctrust@gmail.com.
