CANCER survivor Derek Ward has donated a cheque for £2,000 to the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, after raising the money through a charity event at The Bell Inn in Westbury.

Mr Ward, of Chalford, Westbury, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March last year, but following a successful fight against the disease he decided to organise a fundraising event with wife Angela to give something back to the Cancer Unit at the Royal United Hospital.

He organised an event at The Bell at Chalford in November, where he had his head and beard shaved off to raise money, while an evening of entertainment was provided by a number of close friends.

Karen Tucker, manager of The Bell, provided the venue and food, local DJ Tim Stone provided the music, while Kevin Shepherd and Alan Hewitt donated tools and a Windows Tablet for the auction, which was compared by Mick Maughan.

Mr Ward, whose employer Cereal Partners also provided a Kindle Fire HD for the auction, said: “I had noticed I was visiting the toilet more frequently then normally, but otherwise felt fine.

“I only went to the doctors because we were about to go on holiday to Scotland and I didn’t want to have to keep stopping at services along the way.

“Within two weeks I had been scanned, diagnosed and treatment had begun. Dr Penny Kehagioglou, who specialises in urological cancers at the RUH, was absolutely amazing, as were all of the team within the radiography department. I cannot praise them highly enough.”

Mr Ward presented the cheque to the Trowbridge branch of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group to go towards the Positron Scanner Appeal to thank the cancer unit for the care and support he received.

The appeal, which was launched at the end of 2012, passed the £1 million mark in January and the scanner has now been ordered. It is expected to be ready for its first patient on December 1, 2015.

Chair of the Trowbridge branch of the support group Tino Polledri said: “This is an amazing achievement for the small charity that is run entirely by volunteers. However, fundraising continues as the group strives to raise the final £200,000 before the summer.

“I was delighted to meet the Derek and Angela and their friends at The Bell and would personally like to thank them and everyone who contributed to the amazing sum.”

For more information about the charity or the Positron Scanner Appeal, contact Tino Polledri on 01225 762029 or email admin@trowbridgefrb-bcusg.org