A blossoming new relationship between the Woodlands Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and the Malcolm Whales Foundation, will see a patch of outdoor space at the hospital receive a new lease of life.

The Huntingdonshire-based Malcolm Whales Foundation, which raises money to support younger people who have received a cancer diagnosis, has pledged thousands of pounds to regenerate the garden area, which is located next to the waiting room.

The charity was founded in 2009 by Malcolm’s son Damien. Malcolm lost his fight with bowel cancer a year earlier, aged only 55 and the foundation has been raising money in his memory ever since.

Damien said: “Receiving a diagnosis of cancer and the subsequent treatment and ongoing tests are often stressful for patients and their loved ones. By renovating the garden area, we hope to provide a tranquil and inviting space for patients and their families when they visit the Woodlands.”

To fundraise for projects such as the garden renovation, the charity holds an annual event, a three-day trek which covers 40km of the Dorset coast. Participants of the walk include cancer survivors and their supporters, as well as groups of students who fundraise for the foundation throughout the year.

These same students will be given the opportunity to be involved in creating the new garden, supervised by members of the trust’s estates and facilities team.

Lynda Hall, lead cancer nurse, said: “The area where the garden will be situated is opposite the Woodlands Centre waiting room.

“We are so very grateful to the Malcolm Whales Foundation for making the rejuvenation of our garden possible. Due to the busy nature of the centre, patients can sometimes experience a wait for treatment. We hope that having access to a beautiful garden will make a difference to their experience.”