1:09pm Friday 16th January 2009
By David Hemming
A DETERMINED widow who has been campaigning for a groundbreaking piece of medical equipment for four years has this week declared - 'I'm not giving up the fight'.
The Mercury reported how Ruth Peberdy from Stawell lost her husband Ron to pancreatic cancer at the beginning of 2005, and just thee weeks later vowed to raise £2.5million for lifesaving equipment to help others.
The revolutionary technology, Cyberknife, is only available in London and a handful of other countries, but Ruth is determined to bring it to Bridgwater Hospital.
She wants others to benefit from the frameless robotic radiosurgery machine's ability to treat cancer, tumours, legions and other illnesses.
Since setting up the Ron Peberdy Charitable Trust four years ago, Ruth has raised £45,000.
She told the Mercury: “Bridgwater Hospital would be the perfect place for the Cyberknife because it is close to the major roads and motorway.
“I know one day I will get what I want but it has been four years now and I am shouting from the rooftops that we need this technology available on the NHS.
“I have managed to raise this money and although there is still a long way to go I am determined to get a machine for people in the South-West.”
Somerset Primary Care Trust said it commended Ruth's efforts but warned of the costs the Cyberknife equipment and staffing would bring.
The trust also highlighted the improving outcomes of cancer treatment throughout the South-West in recent years and said cancer patients do have the choice of being referred to hospitals offering Cyberknife treatment.
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