The Big Give ‘match-giving’ initiative gets underway next week, with up to £50,000 on offer to local medical charity Cobalt.

The Big Give is a non-profit, charitable website which enables donors to support charity projects, by matching and therefore doubling donations.

It is one of the largest online giving campaigns in the UK, and launches on #GivingTuesday 3rd December from 12 noon until Tuesday 10th December.

Every donation given to Cobalt through The Big Give website up to £25,000 will be doubled meaning £50,000 will be up for grabs.

Julia Jenkins, Head of Fundraising, Cobalt said: "The money raised through The Big Give will be used to fund two breast cancer research nurses to enable breast cancer research to take place in Gloucestershire hospitals.

"These posts will lead to local involvement in new national and international clinical trials, contributing to breast cancer research. The research nurses will also support the data collection and help to increase the amount of patients entering research projects."

The charity need to raise £66,000 each year to enable this to happen. £128 funds a research nurse for a day to develop and coordinate new and on-going clinical trials, which will in turn give patients access to the best care and treatments.

Dr Sarah Vinnicombe, Consultant Radiologist, Breast Centre, Cheltenham explains the advantages of breast cancer research for the county.

She said: "Funding for two research nurses will enable the team in Thirlestaine Breast Centre to take part in much needed and very important research into the earlier diagnosis of breast cancer.

"Early diagnosis means less intensive treatment and better outcomes and we are really excited to be able to offer the women of Gloucestershire the opportunity to take part in these studies."

Sarah Cook, a supporter of Cobalt and breast cancer survivor says her early diagnosis saved her life.

"Upon my diagnosis of breast cancer I took a long hard look at my life. I had overcome so many hurdles, cancer was the last straw. I wasn’t about to give up without a fight though. I quit my job to launch my own business and now I want to help others.

"The Big Give is a fantastic way to double the return on cash raised for this wonderful charity. The breast cancer nurses will mean a fighting chance of patients getting diagnosed earlier and local women being able to take part in these essential studies."

Anyone who would like to know more about The Big Give and Cobalt’s work should phone the fundraising team on 01242 535922 or email fundraising@cobalthealth.co.uk. You can also find out more here.