'It's a chance to save lives'

Sheila, who has taken on the task of co-ordinating the Lancashire Evening Telegraph appeal, which is for the benefit of the whole of East Lancashire, has worked with a series of charities and health-related causes in her career.

A local woman, who now lives in Mellor, Sheila took on the voluntary role, which will be to co-ordinate the £200,000 appeal to buy specialist equipment to diagnose and detect stomach and oesophageal cancers more quickly and accurately.

She said: "I know and love Lancashire and its people having lived here all my life. I have worked in a number of community projects, both as a volunteer and as a paid employee, trying to make a difference by providing and improving services and life experience, whether for young people, those in emotional distress or those with health needs."

Having worked with organisations ranging from the Brook Advisory Centre, which offers sex education to young people, Cancer Research, the Samaritans and Lancashire County Council, she is relishing the challenge of the appeal.

"The demands on the NHS are never-ending as people live longer and quality of life is so important," she said.

"Technology advances continuously and it is not surprising that we want to take advantage of it at the earliest opportunity. This appeal gives us all a chance to enhance our own NHS facilities speedily, a chance to change things for the better, a chance to save lives by taking the initiative. I believe that is what we should do."

Sheila established the Blackburn Brook Advisory Centre, and was manager for six years until 2000 and has more recently been doing consultancy work.

She has also been a member of the Community Council of Lancashire, including the setting up and managing of a national pilot scheme to assess the practical issues of accessing criminal records for the voluntary sector, for the purposes of screening volunteers. Sheila has also worked as an adviser to charities and charitable trusts.

Her role with the Magic Eye appeal includes the chairing of the appeal committee, liaising with the area organisers, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the health trusts involved, co-ordinating the collection of donations and giving advice to local groups who wish to organise events.

Sheila said: ''Opening the mail at the appeal office is most rewarding with surprises every day. Significantly, in making a donation, many people express gratitude for the hospital treatment they or their relatives have received. At a time when the NHS takes many knocks, it is important that these positive messages are heard by a wider audience."

She added: "If you really believe in something then you can move mountains and with the backing of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the support and generosity of the people of Lancashire, we will."