Ref. 71215-15 Jean ElliottGenerosity pushes our appeal total over £400,000 mark

A GRIEVING widow saved from the depths of suicidal despair by Macmillan nurses has helped other cancer sufferers with a £10,000 donation in memory of her husband.

Jean Elliott's generous gift has pushed the Swindon Cancer Appeal over yet another milestone the £400,000 mark.

This means we are now two-thirds of the way towards reaching our £600,000 target, which will bring fresh hope to cancer patients in Swindon.

Jean's donation the biggest yet given by an individual is all the more remarkable because she saved most of the cash while working as a dinner lady.

It took her 18 years of supervising lunchtimes at Gorse Hill Junior School to save up £6,000, which she planned to spend on an active retirement with husband Ken.

But when Ken died in March this year, the 70-year-old decided to give the cash to the charity which twice saved her life.

Jean who was diagnosed as having cancer of the womb five years ago boosted her savings to £10,000 with cash from Ken's will and by selling the family car.

"Ken and I had enjoyed some wonderful holidays, and we planned to travel when we both retired," said Jean, who hung up her dinner lady's uniform at Easter. "I didn't want to go on holiday without him, and I wanted to help Macmillan.

"Without my Macmillan nurse I know I would have ended my life.

"I thought about it twice, and planned to take an overdose of the morphine and other painkillers I had been prescribed.

"I was numb, and at home on my own, I could have easily done it."

Jean was at a low point because as she came out of hospital having undergone a hysterectomy because of the cancer, her husband went in for a heart by-pass.

Jean, of Edinburgh Street, Gorse Hill, can still remember the words that probably saved her life.

"My Macmillan nurse said you must carry on because there is light at the end. I thought about my grandchildren, and how much I would miss if I did not see them grow up, and decided to carry on with life."

Jean's tumour was removed during the hysterectomy. A course of radiotherapy ensured no cancer cells remained, and Jean is now over the disease, although she is always alert to fresh symptoms.

During her battle, Macmillan nurses were always there to give care, support and friendship.

"I told them I would leave them something. It's just a shame I can't give more," said Jean. "I could have given the money to my family, but Macmillan comes first. The family have got the house when I go."

Jean's plans for an enjoyable retirement were shattered when Ken died after contracting septicaemia from an abbess on his heart. He was 73. But Jean is now beginning to enjoy life again, and takes pleasure in helping look after her six-month-old great-granddaughter, Brodie.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said: "This is the single biggest donation by an individual, and we're really touched that Jean feels so much for Macmillan.

"She has helped us reach another Macmillan milestone.

"It's really moving when you realise how much Macmillan mean to people like Jean."

The appeal currently stands at £408,383. By 2006, we hope to reach the target, which will provide more Macmillan nurses for Swindon.

Tamash Lal