Hope for Tomorrow, the charity which put the world’s first mobile chemotherapy unit on the road in Gloucestershire six years ago, is visiting Malmesbury this week.

The unit, operated by NHS staff and maintained by Hope for Tomorrow, allows patients to be treated near to their homes, saving long distance travel and cutting waiting times.

A spokesperson for Hope for Tomorrow said: “It’s the first time it’s visiting Malmesbury.

“It’s here thanks to all the people who have been supportive and raised money – particularly the League of Friends and the mayor, Ray Sanderson, who have all been absolutely wonderful.”

The Wiltshire unit is named in memory of Kayleigh Louise Wicks, from Christian Malford, who lost her battle against cancer aged 23. It is shared between Salisbury District Hospital and Great Western Hospital, Swindon.

Each mobile unit costs Hope for Tomorrow £250,000 to build and maintain for three years and can give up to 3,000 chemotherapy treatments a year, saving patients thousands of miles of travel while reducing their fuel costs and time taken out of the day for treatment.

The Wiltshire unit will offer treatment to GWH patients when it visits Malmesbury.

Malmesbury mayor Ray Sanderson said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. I support Hope for Tomorrow and will continue to support them even after my mayoral term.

“Having first-hand experience of long journeys to other cancer units for treatments, with my wife having it twice, is my reason to support it. I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

The unit’s first visit to Malmesbury takes place on Thursday, May 30, at Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, Priory Way, from 3-4pm.

It will start weekly treatments on Fridays soon afterwards.