SCHOOL children will be all clued up about cancer once the new information centre is built at Ipswich Hospital.Pupils will be able to use the Cancer Education and Information Centre to research projects into the disease.

SCHOOL children will be all clued up about cancer once the new information centre is built at Ipswich Hospital.

Pupils will be able to use the Cancer Education and Information Centre to research projects into the disease.

Cancer Campaign in Suffolk (CCIS) launched its bid to raise £300,000 to build the centre in 1998.

Now The Evening Star has joined forces with them to raise the final £100,000 to get the scheme underway.

Gina Cooper is secretary of CCIS and often has letters from pupils wanting information to help them with their work.

She also has also linked up on several occasions with former Ipswich Town footballer Jason Cundy, who is one of the trustees of the charity, to go into schools to give talks to pupils about cancer.

Ms Cooper said it was important that youngsters knew how to recognise the signs of cancer in themselves as well as having information to hand if family or friends were diagnosed.

She said teenage boys in particular should be more aware of the risk of testicular cancer.

"Girls seem to take it as a matter of course that when they start developing they will at some point start going screening for cervical cancer and mammograms as they get older," she said.

"But boys don't seem to realise they are prime targets for testicular cancer.

"They tend to exclude themselves because they think they are too young to get it."

N. Tell us about your fundraising efforts for Raise The Roof by calling Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324789 or e-mail StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk.

Donations should be made out to Raise The Roof and sent to Geraldine Thompson, Editor's secretary, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN.

RAISE THE ROOF PANEL:

The Evening Star launched the Raise the Roof campaign to help Cancer Campaign in Suffolk raise the final £100,000 to put the roof on the cancer information centre.

At the new centre the Internet will be available along with professionals for patients to find out what their condition means to them in their own time.

There will also be quiet places available for relatives or carers to be able to talk to consultants about the future for their loved ones and what the illness could involve.

The centre is also there for all sectors of the community to learn about the varieties of the disease, how to avoid risks of developing cancer, information about self-examination and what to do if you suspect a problem.

WEBLINKS: www.ipswichhospital.org.uk

www.cancercampaigninsuffolk.co.uk