AN 80-YEAR-OLD cancer sufferer will abseil down the Southend Hospital tower block to raise funds for the medics who helped him fight his illness.

Brian Knight will brave the 154ft drop on Saturday to raise money for the hospital’s urology department.

Mr Knight, from Keyes Close, Shoebury, has had two operations for bladder cancer and is awaiting a third, but he is not letting that stop him.

He was treated at the specialist centre in Southend, but that is now under threat as NHS bosses want to create just one specialist urological cancer surgery centre in Essex, putting the future of the centres in Southend and Colchester in doubt.

Mr Knight, who was in the Royal Navy, said: “I have another operation on Monday.

“The urology department is wonderful and I just want to give something back.

“The Parson Barn pub, in Shoebury, is sponsoring me. I need to raise £100 and have £80, so I’m not far off.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m reasonably fit.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my time, so things like this don’t bother me. I’m not worried about heights.”

Anne Marie Maguire, landlady of the Parsons Barn, in Frobisher Way, said: “Brian is a regular. He’s a lovely man who goes round the pub doing magic tricks. He’s a really special character.

When he told us what he was doing, we wanted to help.

“He said he wanted to raise £100, so we said we would do that for him and all the staff put something towards it straight away. He’s always full of beans and seems very excited about Saturday. It’s a cause very close to his heart.”

The abseil gives people the chance to raise money for any Southend Hospital unit of their choice. Lucy Thomas-Clayton, associate director of community engagement, said: “We’ve got 52 brave souls who will be abseiling 154ft down the Southend Hospital tower block, including Brian. It is especially touching that he is helping raise money for the area where he has received treatment.

“It is always amazing to see the dedication and passion of people like Brian, supporting Southend Hospital.”

Anyone who would like to add to Mr Knight’s fundraiser can call into the pub or call 01702 382000.

The Tackle the Tower Abseil entry fee is £39. The minimum sponsorship requirement is £100.

To book, contact the hospital’s fundraising team on 01702 385337 or email fundraising@southend .nhs.uk

 

2,000 SIGN OUR PETITION TO SAVE VITAL CANCER SERVICE

 

MORE than 2,000 people have signed an Echo petition fighting for a vital cancer service to remain in Southend.

Specialist urological cancer surgery is provided at Southend and Colchester hospitals.

Government guidelines say only one surgery unit for complex open or keyhole surgery on the kidney, bladder or prostate is needed per one million people, meaning either Southend or Colchester will no longer offer the surgery. Officials from both hospitals, Essex County Council, Thurrock Council and Southend Council are due to discuss the issue this summer.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the issue and a briefing session for members of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees or equivalent at Essex County Council, Southend Council and Thurrock Council has been scheduled for June.

“A task group will likely be formed after the briefing.”

Readers have signed the petition in their thousands with nearly 800 showing their support online to keep both units open.

If the surgery is no longer offered at Southend, patients face an 80-mile round trip to Colchester.

To sign the Echo’s petition visit: www.tinyurl.com/mppp562