Current and former patients of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre were joined by family and friends and members of staff on Friday 21 March to take part in a Fire Walk to raise funds for the centre.  

The ‘brave soles’ walked over red-hot coals, cheered on by their loved ones, at the event.

The Ruparelia family – Chandrika, Hitesh and Sanjay (pictured below) – took on the Fire Walk in memory of Anil to mark what would have been his 75th birthday. Anil was the beloved father to Sanjay, husband to Chandrika and brother to Hitesh. Hitesh did the honours and lit the fire to start the event.  

Sanjay said: “Mount Vernon Cancer Centre played a crucial role in my mother’s recovery from breast cancer, offering expert care and support during a challenging time.  

“As a family, we have also been impacted by the loss of my uncle Arvind, Anil and Hitesh’s brother, to cancer. Since then, my uncle Hitesh has dedicated his Fridays to volunteering at Mount Vernon, giving back to the very place that provides hope to so many facing treatment for cancer. 

“By taking on the Fire Walk, my family are honouring loved ones we have lost, celebrating those who have survived and thanking the centre for its vital work. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre remains a beacon of hope, and with continued support, it can keep making a difference to countless lives.” 

Eloise Huddleston, charity director, said: “Thank you so much to the Ruparelia family and everyone who bravely took part in the Fire Walk and helped to raise over £13,000 for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.  

“What we do as a charity is try and make things easier for patients going through that difficult time when they are facing treatment for cancer.  

“With funds raised from events like the Fire Walk, we fund complementary therapies to help patients deal with the side effects of their treatment. We also fund special chairs for patients having chemotherapy which can often take several hours, and we also fund improvements like sky panels which help patients feel more calm and relaxed during radiotherapy. 

“We couldn’t do any of this without kind people like the Ruparelia family raising funds and donating."