Community fundraising group Friends of Royal Surrey Charity held  a charity quiz night with fish and chips and dessert on May 19 at the Farnham Town Football Club in Mead Lane.

They handed over £5,000 to local MP Jeremy Hunt and the hospital, and raised another £2,000 on the night.

Sponsored by Coffee Diem in Farnham and Bentley Lodge Nursing Home, the quiz was supported by a large number of local independent stores which donated some amazing raffle prizes. Farnham Town Football Club kindly gifted the use of their clubhouse and also donated profits from the bar on the evening.

Abbas Merali, owner of Bentley Lodge, said: “Innovation and technology in the healthcare sector is one of the strongest opportunities available to us to unlock some of the key challenges in our NHS and something I am personally passionate about. 

“At Bentley Lodge Nursing Home, we work closely with RSCH and are delighted to be supporting the Cancer and Surgical Innovation Campaign with this wonderful initiative.”

George Murray, owner of Coffee Diem, said: “I am delighted to sponsor the charity quiz night and support this vital campaign. Cancer is a scourge which effects us all and the more we can do to find new treatments the better.”

George added beforehand: “I love a quiz so I’ll be there with my Farnham walking football team mates – but I don’t think I am allowed to win!”

However, George and his team did win the quiz!

Judith Storey, chairperson of Friends of Royal Surrey Charity, said: “We handed over a cheque for £5,000 to the hospital representing the first few events.

“We  raised another £2,000 at the quiz. What a wonderful few weeks we have enjoyed, attending  the Big Iftar with the Ahmadiyya Community, the Farnham Rotary duck race and sold a number of donated items such as a trike and a golf day and have raised an additional amount of more than £1,200.

“The campaign is raising funds to provide additional equipment and enhance the patient experience and surroundings. The new centre will enable the hospital to treat 7,000 additional patients a year.”

All money raised will go towards Royal Surrey Charity’s Cancer and Surgical Innovation Campaign, which will revolutionise surgery in the south east.

Its next event is on July 14 at the Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club. It’s a croquet taster and afternoon tea to celebrate 75 years of the NHS. For tickets and further information, call  07932 411108 or email [email protected]

For more information about the campaign and to donate, visit royalsurreycharity.org.uk/surgery