MEMBERS of the WRVS helped to get the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Cancer Scanner Appeal off to a flying start by making a £10,000 donation to the fund.

The generous sum towards the £200,000 appeal for a "magic eye" scanner to diagnose stomach and oesophageal cancers was made by members of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service who are based at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Their donation means the appeal is already well underway.

Project manager Maud Mason handed over the donation to appeal co-ordinator Sheila Shaw and Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust chairman Ian Woolley.

Maud, who runs an army of 52 volunteers who between them operate a tea bar and trolley service at the hospital, said the donation was particularly important to her as she had lost two husbands to cancer.

She said: "My first husband died of cancer in his gall bladder and had to go to Manchester for treatment.

"Then my second husband died of lung cancer. It is a terrible disease."

She added: "We have a wonderful set of volunteers and they are all very dedicated. Obviously, we have grown over the years and we try to raise money for the extra things for patients.

"This year we have bought three computers, a wheelchair for general use and a wheelchair for children who have had hip operations."

Receiving the donation for the appeal, Ms Shaw said: "This represents day-by-day, hour-by-hour, five-days-a-week commitment throughout the year from I think 50-odd volunteers providing this wonderful service in such a traditional way.

"I think it is the pennies that make the pounds and it is not just the support of the NHS staff and the people involved in different departments, but the support of everyone who will make this appeal work.

"The other component is the generosity of the people of the area who we know always come up trumps.

"When they see an appeal which they feel is for the benefit of every individual around, as everyone has experience of someone who has suffered from cancer in some way, we know this is going to work."

Mr Woolley said: "This donation will give a message to people out there who, we hope, are going to support us with their pennies and pounds as well.

"This appeal is not going to depend upon a few rich people giving sums, it is going to depend on people across the whole of East Lancashire donating.

"This equipment is not an add-on extra. It is actually something that could be extremely important and very beneficial to a lot of people.

"It is wonderful that the WRVS have helped to start the appeal."

The appeal already has big-name supporters.

LibertyX singer Kevin Simm, formerly of Abbey Village, gave his backing to the project, as has Prime Minister Tony Blair.

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