The Sunrise Appeal has celebrated a quarter-century of supporting cancer services in the region by granting £400,000 towards cutting-edge cancer treatment technology for Cornwall.

The Sunrise Centre in Truro will become the first radiotherapy department in the South West to install HyperSight, the latest imaging technology that will keep Cornwall at the forefront of modern treatment.

The HyperSight imaging system upgrade to the new NHS-funded Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy machine replaces the outgoing LA3 machine. With a significantly larger field of view and faster image acquisition times, the system promises to transform the patient experience and the precision of treatment.

“To mark 25 years of fundraising, we wanted to do something truly impactful,” said Sunrise Appeal co-founder and trustee Janet Shephard. “HyperSight is a significant leap forward for cancer care in Cornwall. This technology will bring more accurate treatment, shorter appointments, and less radiation exposure to patients.”

HyperSight allows radiographers to perform a single Cone Beam CT scan rather than two overlapping scans, reducing radiation exposure and time on the treatment couch. The upgraded reconstruction software delivers sharper images, boosting radiographer confidence and speeding up image review, especially in complex areas like the abdomen.

“We’ll be able to see more, faster, and with far greater clarity,” said senior radiographer Nikki Snell. “For patients, that means less time in breath hold and a smoother overall experience. It also enables us to adapt treatment plans directly from images taken on the machine, something that previously required additional CT scans and delays.”

The Sunrise Appeal has raised over £3.7-million to support equipment, research, and patient wellbeing in Cornwall. “Without our supporters, this kind of innovation simply wouldn’t be possible,” added Janet. “This grant represents not only the future of radiotherapy, but a heartfelt thank you to every donor, volunteer and fundraiser who has walked this journey with us for 25 years.”