Elekta Helps Raise $33,000 to Bring Radiation Treatment to Developing Countries

June 17, 2015 - Together with its customers, Elekta raised EUR 30,575 (USD 33,250) during the 3rd European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Forum in Barcelona in April. The funds will be donated to Radiating Hope, a nonprofit organization with the mission to improve cancer care, specifically radiation oncology care, around the world.

Radiating Hope believes that no patient should be denied potentially life-saving treatment simply because the technology is not affordable. Consequently, it cooperates with hospitals and clinics around the world to take care of their replaced equipment, refurbish the machine and then ship it to a developing country.

President and co-founder of the organization, Dr. Brandon Fisher, says: "While I was a radiation oncology resident, I did a medical mission in Africa and discovered that such missions in radiation therapy were almost nonexistent. I wanted to change that."

Elekta and Radiating Hope used the ESTRO Forum to strengthen their partnership agreement, which will see Elekta making an increased commitment to giving people in developing countries access to radiation therapy. The partners also discussed how to advance the role of education and training in countries where the equipment might exist, but not the clinical experience.

For more information: www.elekta.com