A GROUP of elderly people have put their hands in their pockets to help Raise the Roof.The Woodbridge pensioners, who all go the Glebe Day Centre in the town all took in a host of prizes and bought tickets for a draw.

A GROUP of elderly people have put their hands in their pockets to help Raise the Roof.

The Woodbridge pensioners, who all go the Glebe Day Centre in the town all took in a host of prizes and bought tickets for a draw.

A grand total of £102 was raised and will now go straight to the Raise the Roof campaign run by the Evening Star in conjunction with Cancer Campaign in Suffolk.

We aim to raise £100,000 to help put the roof on a Cancer education and information Centre to be built at Ipswich Hospital.

Cancer Campaign in Suffolk started the project, costing £300,000, in 1998 and raised £200,000.

With our help and the help of our readers it is hoped that building work will be able to start on the centre at the end of this year.

Janet Church who runs the Woodbridge Centre said the residents decided to raise the money because many of them knew someone who has had cancer.

Also, Janet's husband Jonathan died from cancer at the age of 62, last year.

She knows just how important the new information centre will be as it is planned to have quiet rooms for family to talk to consultants and specialists about their loved ones condition.

Mrs Church said: "I distinctly remember one day one of the specialists wanted a quiet word with me.

"There was nowhere for us to go to talk and I really feel that something like that would be really helpful."

RAISE THE ROOF PANEL:

IT is planned that the new centre will enable all sectors of the community to learn about cancer.

There will be books, leaflets and the internet available to teach people about the various aspects of the disease, how to avoid the risks of developing cancer, information about self examination and screening and where to go if you suspect you might have a problem.

Other types of help should also be on hand such as what benefits are available, where to get wigs – all the things people need to know but don't know where to ask.

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.

Plans are also being made to have a refreshments area where families can go to visit their relatives away from the ward.

WEBLINKS: www.ipswichhospital.org.uk

www.cancercampaigninsuffolk.co.uk