residents across South West Surrey and parts of East Hampshire will benefit from a new urology centre, due for completion by the summer of 2018, to be named after a tireless and dedicated fundraiser.

The £4.5million state-of-the-art facility at Guildford’s Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) will be known as ‘The Stokes Centre for Urology,’ in honour of Prostate Project chairman Colin Stokes OBE.

Mr Stokes, from Godalming, was 57 years old and had just launched his own consultancy business when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery.

It was during an initial appointment with consultant urological surgeon, John Davies, that he promised to help his doctor raise some money in exchange for “keeping him alive”.

Prostate Project, the charity they co-founded 20 years ago, was only supposed to run for three years, with the goal of raising £250,000 and purchasing an ultrasound scanner and other equipment for the hospital.

“If you had told me back in 1998 that the Prostate Project would be helping to build this phenomenal facility and that it would be named after me, I know I would have laughed,” said Mr Stokes (pictured).

“It is important for me to stress that this is not just an honour for me. It also recognises the incredible team effort from countless individuals over the years, who have helped to bring this project to reality.

“It is also thanks to the very generous donors, who have trusted us with their much needed donations, which of course we still need.”

“This is also an opportunity to remind people that the Prostate Project is currently running a buy a brick appeal as part of our commitment to raise £2million towards the costs of the pioneering centre.

“We still need to raise £250,000 and you can help by visiting www.prostate-project .org.uk”

The urology centre is being jointly funded by the RSCH Trust and the Prostate Project, with the charity providing just under half the amount.

Alf Turner, the RSCH’s director of human resources and business support, who is leading the project for the trust, said: “Colin Stokes is an inspirational man, who has shown relentless drive and commitment to help other people by creating this best-in-class facility at Royal Surrey.

“Hundreds of thousands of patients and their families will benefit from The Stokes Centre for Urology once completed and they will owe Colin and the Prostate Project a huge debt.”