TRUSTEES of The Lions International Blood Research Appeal (LIBRA), a south east charity, are pleased to announce that £200,000 has been raised in aid of its Giving 4 Growth Campaign.

Chairman Andrew lodge, a member of Farnham Lions club, and fellow trustees launched the appeal in August 2012 to help raise funds for the Haematology Department at King’s College Hospital, London.

LIBRA was established by Lions Clubs International in 1976 and today trustees work closely with Professor Ghulam Mufti, the head of the haematology at King’s, and other health experts within his department.

They are in regular contact to ensure funding is being raised to support the most urgent needs of the department.

In 2012 LIBRA pledged to raise £100,000 after receiving a wish list of laboratory equipment from the professor and his team.

In 2015 the funding requirements became greater and LIBRA pushed the campaign target up to £200,000 to ensure wider needs were being met.

With the invaluable support of Lions and the public, LIBRA has reached the campaign target. Funds have been raised through generous donations, Lions’ events, sponsored challenges, and by King’s patients and their families.

Professor Mufti said: “We are so grateful to LIBRA and its wonderful supporters for raising the significant funds required for laboratory developments. We so desperately needed the funding to improve some of our most important laboratories.

“It means we have the work space needed to create and test new treatments for leukaemia and allied blood cancers. Without this funding, we simply wouldn’t be able to carry out the research required to create lifesaving therapies.”

Most recently, as part of the Giving 4 Growth Campaign, LIBRA was requested to support the creation of a new ambulatory transplant unit on the hospital’s Davidson ward.

In 2016 LIBRA successfully applied for match funding from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for this unit, with 50 per cent of funding secured from LCIF and 50 per cent raised through LIBRA and Lions fundraising.

Following the success of the Giving 4 Growth Campaign, LIBRA is set to launch the ‘Tree of Life’ appeal later in the spring.

The new campaign will provide vital support to King’s to ensure that the best possible treatments are available for patients suffering with blood cancers and disorders.

Andrew Lodge, LIBRA chairman, commented: “I would like to thank supporters in Farnham and across the south east for providing such great support throughout our Giving 4 Growth Campaign.

“The funds raised will benefit patients today and in the future. Although we have raised such a significant amount, there is always a need within the haematology department and across the wards, so our fundraising efforts must continue.

“Together we can help in the battle against blood cancers and blood disorders. We look forward to launching the Tree of Life campaign this spring and hope that people will continue to get involved with fundraising activities.”

To fundraise for LIBRA or make a donation towards the next campaign, visit www.libralionscharity.org for more information.