Spotlight - Cobalt

We are a local medical charity and strive to ensure access to the latest diagnostic equipment when needed.  We provide diagnostic imaging for over 130,000 patients at Imaging Centres in Cheltenham and Birmingham and with a fleet of mobile MRI CT and PET/CT scanners supporting hospitals across the UK including the three counties of Gloucestershire, Hereford, and Worcestershire. We invest in technology to get the best image quality, reduce scan times and improve patient comfort.  We participate in and fund research mainly in the areas of cancer and dementia, and are currently contributing to 40 research studies. Our education programme provides training for healthcare professionals on a local, national, and international basis with the aim to share research findings and deliver best practice.

We need to raise £1 million each year through fundraising. We have a number of initiatives including the Cheltenham Lottery to help us do this including events such as our open gardens, an annual Make a Will Month appeal with local solicitors, an online auction and annual photography competition. The Cheltenham Lottery is a fantastic way to get our name out there and a low cost and fun way for people to support us.

We have a number of appeals proceeds that the Cheltenham Lottery can support including a teenage and young adults with cancer nurse, specialist breast cancer research nurses, a dementia fund and a research fund. Next year Cobalt will be 60 years old so we will have lots of fun activities for people to get involved in to celebrate.

The Cheltenham Lottery has given us an additional fundraising mechanism and a fun and low cost option for our supporters to raise money for us. We have also been involved in promotional videos that have been shared across social media helping spread the word about what we do. Often our lovely supporters donate back their winnings too which is a wonderful gesture.