In an important development for the research into, and treatment of, all Gastro-Intestinal cancers (GI; this includes cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, small and large bowel) and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary cancers (HPB; this includes cancers of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder and bile ducts), the Trustees of BRIGHT (RCN 1064857) and the Trustees of Liver Cancer Surgery Appeal “LCSA” (RCN 1061703) voted unanimously to merge BRIGHT with the LCSA to create a single, enlarged charity – under the banner of BRIGHT.
BRIGHT supports the clinical and research work of cancer specialists at St Luke’s Cancer Centre and the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery Unit, (now known as The Southern HPB Unit), both based at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.
It was the Trustees’ joint view that a combined approach was a better way for the future goals of each charity to be secured. The merger has the approval of the Charity Commission – this was applied for and was granted because of the similar nature of the two charities.
The chair of BRIGHT Dr Alexandra Stewart said: “We are delighted that the two charities have combined to create a bigger, more powerful organisation capable of fighting these deadly diseases. The synergies available to us in working together are considerable and they will enable a much brighter future for all our patients”.
Professor Nariman Karanjia, the founder and chair of LCSA stated: “Together we will be stronger. My fellow Trustees and I look forward to continuing our work under the banner of BRIGHT; I hope that all of our loyal supporters and donors will share my enthusiasm for amalgamating resources in this way.”
The completion of the merger was celebrated at a GenesisCare–sponsored dinner at the House of Commons in October 2018, which was hosted by Sir Paul Beresford, MP and Patron of BRIGHT. The LCSA will now apply to transfer its assets to BRIGHT and to de-register itself with the Charity Commission.