A SPECIAL celebration has been held to thank supporters of a cancer centre for their mammoth fundraising efforts.

The amazing army of fundraisers has helped to raise more than £45,000 for the South West Wales Cancer Centre in Singleton Hospital in the past year alone.

Dozens of people were invited along to the reception at the radiology department of Singleton Hospital on Friday night.

The centre came into being after more than a million pounds wasraised through the Evening Post's Millennium Appeal and through the kind support of people across South West Wales.

It is there to offer lifesaving treatment for people with cancer from across the region, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Dr Salah El-Sharkawi MBE, retired consultant clinical oncologist at the South West Wales Cancer Centre, said: "It is all for the people and families across South West Wales, they all deserve to have the best treatment and care we can get for them.

"We need to ensure that the development of cancer care continues and does not come to a standstill."

Dr Sharkawi may have formally retired from the cancer centre, but he continues to tirelessly fundraise for it.

Evan Davies MBE, a firm friend and supporter of the South West Wales Cancer Centre for many years, has been instrumental in helping supporters from across the area to raise the fantastic sums.

Fundraisers including Belinda Rae, of Tumble in Llanelli, helped to raise £2,000 for the cancer centre by shaving her head before Christmas in memory of her friend Deborah.

And Gareth Evans, of Cwmllynfell, and his sister-in-law raised over £1,200 for the cancer centre from a charity concert.

Michael Blewitt, from Carmarthen, also completed a 60-mile bike ride, raising over £600 in support of the facility, which has patients referred for treatment from hospitals from Neath Port Talbot, Morriston, Glangwili General Hospital, in Carmarthen, to Withybush and Bronglais Hospitals.

In the future the centre will be launching a new charitable foundation, which will help to carry on the inspirational work headed up by Dr Sharkawi.

All the cash raised will go towards lifesaving cancer treatment, facilities and research for the people of South West Wales.

Corrine Jones, foundation manager at the South West Wales Cancer Centre, added: "We are going to be officially launching the foundation in September."

Anyone wishing to get involved with the new foundation or wishes to support the centre should contact corrine.jones@wales.nhs.uk

elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk

Post People — page 22