SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: A family of milkmen will be making an extra delivery in aid of the Swindon Cancer Appeal.

Mark Robins, 41, has pledged his support for the fund, along with his brother Adrian, 43, and father Stanley, 75.

The men will mark the Macmile charity event, which gets underway next week with a cash collection.

While doing their rounds in Wootton Bassett they will drop off special envelopes to their customers.

Mark, of Station Road, Wootton Bassett, said: "Hopefully when we go back round to collect them our customers will have filled them with cash.

"I've been a milkman for 25 years and after that length of time you get to know your customers quite well. They become like friends.

"It would be great if they dug deep for Macmillan. I read about the appeal in the Evening Advertiser and think it's very worthwhile.

"Everyone seems to know someone affected by cancer. It's everywhere."

Mark gets up at 2.30am, when some Swindonians are just getting back from a night on the tiles.

He is in bed by 10.30pm at the latest although he likes a quiet nap in the afternoon, and reckons he travels more than six miles on his daily rounds.

"The mornings are the best part of the day," he said. "It's so peaceful and calm, especially at this time of the year.

"You get used to the early starts and the cold winters."

Mark occasionally receives help from his three children, Annabel, 10, Emily, eight, and Beth, five.

His wife of 18 years Tracey, 40, works for an insurance broker.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said: "This sounds like a novel way to raise money for our appeal.

"Let's hope the people in Wootton Bassett have a lot of spare cash for Mark to collect.

"I'm so excited that Macmile is starting next week.

"There are lots of events planned and there's still time to get involved."

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