Press release posted 21 November 2025
Coronation Street actor Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Metcalfe in the iconic TV soap, will officially open The Christie Charity Garden of Hope in Manchester city centre on Saturday 6 December at 5pm.
The garden, situated in St John’s Garden on Lower Byrom Street is a beautiful immersive light installation created in recognition and celebration of the lives of loved ones touched by cancer.
The installation is made up of 1,000 pre-lit white roses – each one displaying a message of love and hope dedicated to someone special.
Visitors are invited to drop by and add their message to the collective tributes with every dedication raising money for the life-saving and life-changing work of The Christie hospital. There is a minimum donation of £20 for each rose.
Sally says: “This a beautiful installation and a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect and remember loved ones. I have experienced firsthand the shock and disbelief of a cancer diagnosis, and The Christie was there to guide and support me through my treatment. I’m honoured to be asked to open such a special display and to support the incredible work of The Christie Charity.”
Emma Neville, counsellor, menopause coach and wife of Manchester Utd legend Gary is also supporting the event and has dedicated a rose to her mother Linda who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer cancer in 2024 and is now in remission.
Emma says: “This is a stunning concept and one I’m delighted to support. Watching my mum go through a cancer diagnosis and treatment was devastating but thankfully she came through it. This garden is not only a tribute to everyone who has been touched by cancer in one way or another but is also a really impactful and significant way of raising money to ensure The Christie remains at the forefront of cancer research, care and treatment.”
The garden, sponsored by Manchester-based PR consultancy, Roland Dransfield, will open on Saturday 6 December at 5pm to 8pm and then from Sunday 7 December it will open from 3pm to 8pm every day until Sunday 21 December.
Lisa Morton, Founder and CEO of Roland Dransfield, says: “As soon as I heard about The Garden of Hope, I wanted us to be involved. The wonderful team at The Christie saved my Mum’s life 20 years ago and has been a huge support for other family members, close friends, and clients. It’s an incredible Manchester institution. This is a beautiful way to recognise all those people who have been affected by cancer and to support Christie’s life-changing treatment and research.”
For those unable to visit the garden in person, roses can be pre-ordered online at The Christie Charity Garden of Hope or at The Christie Charity Centre in the hospital. Each order includes a complementary Christmas tree rose decoration to hang at home.
All funds raised from the Garden of Hope will go towards bringing a life-changing Total Body PET-CT scanner to The Christie. Total Body PET-CT scanners are the latest and very best in PET-CT technology. They can scan the entire body quickly, in one go, and produce high quality images that help identify cancer more easily and develop faster targeted treatment plans.
The Total Body PET-CT scanner will increase the number of scans for research at The Christie from 300 to at least 1,000 a year. It will also help researchers understand how cancer in one organ has an impact across the body.
This will then give Christie researchers new and powerful insights into cancer that will ultimately lead to better patient outcomes and care. It will also help attract more bright minds to The Christie and train the next generation of cancer experts.
Currently, the nearest Total Body PET-CT scanners are in London and Edinburgh, over 200 miles away. The Christie Charity has pledged £7m to bring a Total Body PET-CT scanner to The Christie to help improve care for cancer patients.
To support the work of The Christie Charity, please go to Donate today or ring 0161 446 3988.
The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.