Macmillan Cancer Relief are a group of dedicated people who help those suffering from cancer and their families. Last week, coffee mornings and other events were held in towns and in the countryside nationally to help raise money for the worthy cause. Ross-on-Wye joined in with the fund raising exercise and in Herefordshire, Macmillan are raising money to build a new oncology unit at Hereford General Hospital. Currently Hereford General cannot deal with many cancer treatments and patients have to travel to Cheltenham for chemotherapy.

As I have mentioned before, this is a subject close to home for myself and in fact I will be spending the whole of tomorrow in Cheltenham with my son, who is taking an eight month course of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Although Cheltenham General Hospital has wonderful staff and the oncology unit is a comfortable and well equipped place, the travelling and cueing for treatment adds a lot of stress for people having to travel from Herefordshire. The new unit in Hereford will be a huge benefit for future local cancer sufferers.

Many people in and around Ross held coffee mornings last week and below are photographs from some of these events. Pictured immediately below, Rachel Bushell, with the help of Jules King's cake baking, held a coffee morning at her Bridstow home, which raised about £60 for Macmillan. In the photograph are Jules King, Jane Roberts, Wendy Alston, Rachel Bushell, Ron Watts, Sue Goddard, Linda Davies, Ruth Steggles and Sarah Jones.

At Ashfield Primary School, a successful coffee morning was held on Wednesday morning. Cakes were baked by parents and staff. A raffle was held with prizes which were donated by school staff. The event was extremely well attended and the organizers would like to thank 'Rumbling Tum' for providing cups, urns and other equipment.

Below: Ross Macmillan Cancer Support Group decided to hold its coffee morning a day after the nation wide Biggest Coffee Morning, hoping that people who were unable to take part on the Friday would join them on a Saturday morning. The group was not disappointed and would like to thank the many people who supported the event. Thanks to Ross Baptist Church who provided the venue, people who baked and sent other donations and all the helpers on the day. A total of £515 was raised. This is another big boost towards the funding of the new Renton Unit for Hereford Hospital.

Joyce Thomas, who is Patron of Macmillan Support for two years and most of the committee attended Saturday's event, while others held coffee mornings on Friday, raising a further £400. All of the money has gone to the new unit.

The next Macmillan fund raising event is to be the first of the season's quiz nights. It will be held at the Conservative Club on Wednesday 18th October at 7:30pm.

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