A £10,000 donation has helped the Clear Cancer Campaign get one step closer to its fundraising target.

Last week the chief executive of Skipton Building Society John Goodfellow presented the largest single donation to the bowel cancer campaign group, set up last June.

He said: "With so many people being affected by cancer in some way during their lifetime, I feel that it is important to pull together as a community and help those around us who are suffering from this unfortunate disease."

Over the next two months more fundraising events have been organised to help reach the £100,000 target to continue to run clinics for detecting and treating of bowel cancer victims in Craven.

Skipton Rotary Club set up the charity Craven Clear Cancer campaign last year in conjunction with the Skipton and Craven Rotary Club and doctors and surgeons at Airedale General Hospital.

Bowel cancer is one of the biggest killers of men. More than 18,000 people a year die from bowel cancer, yet it can be treated if diagnosed early enough. Earlier this week rock star and actor Ian Dury died from bowel cancer and actress Jane Asher is spearheading National Bowel Cancer Week from April 10.

Locally the Clear Campaign aim is to raise enough money by this July to be able to save lives through an awareness scheme about bowel cancer and the provision of the first free clinics for the public in the country.

The clinics were set up at Airedale Hospital thanks to £53,000 collected in fundraising and that money is already being used to save lives.

However, now the final £47,000 is needed to keep the lifesaving clinics going at the hospital.

Fundraising events up to July include a sponsored abseil fifty feet down the training tower at Skipton Fire Station on Monday May 1.

Application and sponsor forms for this event can be obtained from John Sheard, telephone 720687.

On May 13 there will be a sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay and for entry forms ring 793552. On the same day Rotarian and Skipton Building Society human resources manager Ian Walker will start his sponsored pilgrim walk in France and for further details ring 705000.

In June, there will be a Ceilidh at Bolton Abbey Village Hall on June 10 and tickets are available by ringing 710533. On the 17th there will be sponsored dragon boat racing at Coniston Cold and entry forms are available by ringing 720687.

On July 16, there will also be an open gardens event at Beamsley Hall.

The rotary club has also organised for a collection of empty toner and inkjet cartridges to be recycled and raise money for the campaign and other Rotary charities.

All used cartridges should be taken to Craven Stationery, 22 Coach Street, Skipton. Acceptable cartridges include laser printer, laser fax, photocopier, inkjet and cartridges and toner kits.

The club has also arranged for a collection of old jewellery which can be deposited with Geoff Thomas, at 36 Sheep Street.

Meanwhile all households in the area are being targeted in a raising awareness campaign over the next few weeks.

A leaflet explaining all about bowel cancer, which can be cured if caught early, was delivered to everyone living in the BD23 post code area this week. In coming weeks the leaflets will go to BD24 and BD20 homes. They will also be delivered in the Bentham area.

The leaflet tells people what symptoms to look for, and gives a number to ring if you are worried and want to make an appointment with Airedale Hospital direct, rather than being referred by your GP.

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