A TOOL hire company has become the latest member of an exclusive club overseeing the creation of a new cancer centre.

Harwich Tool Hire are now proud members of the 2019 Club, which was launched by the Colchester Hospital Charity.

The club is supporting the campaign to build a new cancer centre at Colchester General Hospital, combining a number of departments in one site.

The initiative is for businesspeople across Colchester and Tendring. In return for donating or raising £2,019 to support the Cancer Centre Campaign, Club members will benefit from exclusive member only events.

The Mills family from Harwich Tool Hire were quick to donate as soon as they heard about the 2019 Club, after having lost several members of family to cancer.

Paul Milsom, of Milsom’s Hotels who is the patron of the club and a founding member, said: “We all know people who have been affected by cancer. "It’s a traumatic time for patients. If it were me, I’d want to be treated in an environment that is calm, welcoming and less daunting than your typical NHS clinic or treatment space, which is why I am backing this initiative and calling on others to join me.”

Colchester Hospital chief executive, Nick Hulme, said the business community in Colchester has a long history of supporting the hospital.

He added: "I am confident with the help of the community we serve, the fundraising campaign will be completed this year and the new centre will open in 2019.”

Work is to start on the new state-of-the-art cancer facility this year, but the hospital still requires another £301,261 to complete the project.

Peter Wilson, chairman of the Cancer Centre Campaign, said: “We are delighted to welcome Harwich Tool Hire. We’ve had a phenomenal response from the community so far and even though we’re nearing our £3.2million target we can’t stop yet.

"The 2019 Club is a fantastic way for local companies to get involved and be part of this life changing project.”

The 2019 Club will be active until mid-2019 when the new Cancer Centre opens.

To sign up visit http://www.cohoc.org.uk/.