MORE than 2,000 people in Swindon were referred to hospital in 2002 with suspected cancer.

That is why today we are proud to launch a £600,000 appeal with Macmillan Cancer Relief, the charity which works to ease the suffering of those fighting the disease.

TAKE a good look at these two women. Their beaming faces give the impression that they haven't got a care in the world.

But they have. For Ruth Meacham and Jenny Ellis are patients at the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton and are living and laughing with cancer, along with thousands of people in the Swindon area.

Ruth and Jenny are just two of the reasons why The Evening Advertiser today joins forces with Macmillan Cancer Relief to launch a £600,000 appeal to improve the lives of those living with the disease.

Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer will be aware of the vitally important work of Macmillan nurses.

Their special gift for caring has helped ease the suffering of thousands of Swindon people battling the disease.

Cancer patients in the town already benefit from the support of 11 Macmillan nurses based at the Great Western Hospital (GWH) and the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

But as the number of people being diagnosed with cancer in the town continues to climb, the demand for more nurses increases.

The money raised from the Swindon Cancer Appeal, as it is called, will pay for two new Macmillan nurses at the Great Western Hospital.

One will specialise in gynaecological cancers, while the other will specialise in urological cancers.

They will join an existing team in the cancer care unit.

The additional posts will mean the hospital will have one specialist nurse for each of the main types of cancer.

It will also pay for a specialist consultant in cancer care, who will work at both the GWH and the Prospect Hospice.

The consultant will specialise in palliative care, improving the quality of life for those with terminal cancer.

Money raised by the appeal will fund all three posts for three years.

Funding of the posts will then be taken over by the NHS.

And before the consultant is in place, the appeal will provide a £50,000 grant to fund a part-time anaesthetist, an expert in pain control.

Some of the money will also be used to award grants to individual patients to provide equipment and a wide range of services.

With four in 10 people now likely to be affected by cancer at some stage in their life, the appeal could not be more important.

That is why we are aiming to reach our target in three years.

Last year alone, more than 2,000 people were referred to hospital in Swindon with suspected cases of cancer.

Patients such as Jenny Ellis, and fellow patient Ruth Meacham at the Prospect Hospice. Jenny said: " Without Macmillan nurses I'd be lost. They helped change my whole perspective."

Patient Beryl Cotterill, 66, of Wheeler Avenue, Swindon, who has terminal ovarian cancer, says she does not know how she would cope without the support of Macmillan nurses.

"They give me the willpower to keep going," she said. "I couldn't do it without them."

Sally Black is in charge of the specialist nursing team in the cancer unit at the GWH.

She said: "When people are told they have cancer they quite often experience a wide range of emotions.

"These new Macmillan nurse specialists will work with existing multi-professional teams and will be able to use their advanced skills to offer emotional and clinical support to patients and their families from the time they are first diagnosed, and right throughout their illness."

So, today, we are asking for your support to fund these vital new posts.

It is going to be a hard battle, but we know we can do it.

And the important point to remember is that all the money raised will be spent in the Swindon and Marlborough areas.

We want schools, businesses, community groups and individuals to get involved by organising events. Alternatively, just give a donation every penny helps.

Graziella Campisano, appeals manager at Macmill-an's Swindon office, said: "I want to say a big thank you to the people of Swindon because I know you will rise to this challenge of raising such a huge amount of money. Any donation, however small, is going to be important to us.

"I'm really looking forward to working with you to raise money for these vital new posts."

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting men. Prostate Cancer Awareness Week was launched yesterday and runs until April 1. For a leaflet explaining the links between diet and prostate cancer and common questions about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, call 0207 343 4200.

To make a donation online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.