A CANCER support group has been given a £445 boost thanks to a generous donation from train operator c2c.

Rail employers were given the opportunity to nominate a charity as part of c2c's annual staff survey, with £1 donated to a local good cause for every completed survey.

Michelle Parry, who works at Southend East station, and Marion Bridge, from Tilbury Town, nominated Copes, based at both Basildon Hospital and Southend Hospital, after their own relatives received care and support from the group.

Copes stands for cervical, ovarian, perineal, endometrial support, and was first set up in 2005.

The charity runs monthly support groups, and funds new medical equipment and education initiatives.

Emma Azeem, from Copes, said: “We rely on donations like to this to help those affected by gynaecological cancer. All the funds we raise goes a long way to improving patients’ care in the Southend and Basildon areas, so we thank c2c staff for nominating us and for their generous donation to COPES.”

Julie Davis, c2c station manager for the Essex area, said: “I’m really pleased our staff nominated this very deserving local charity, especially as COPES has directly helped the families of our local c2c staff.”