AN ALDERLEY business woman got the perfect present for her fiftieth birthday - a boost for the cancer fund she set up two years ago.
Mum-of-two Fay Armstrong asked friends to ditch presents and consider a donation to GONC (Gynae Oncology), a trust fund for Macclesfield's Cancer Unit.
Fay set up the fund after she vowed to help the hospital that saved the life of herself and her daughter when she became ill during her first pregnancy 17 years ago.
"It seemed like a good idea as, apart from tokens, what do you buy for someone my age? I'm sure my friends were pleased to be able to give me something I really wanted and I have to thank them very much as they were incredibly generous," said Fay.
"As a trustee of GONC I'm kept aware of what happens to the money," she added. "It's not a huge fund and, of course, needs adding to so there's money available when needed."
The fund was set up following an all star football fundraiser at Macclesfield Town Football Club in May 2004 in aid of the new Cancer Resource Centre at Macclesfield District General Hospital.
A pool of money was put aside at the same time for the Gynae Cancer Research, or GONC fund.
This money is used to cut through red tape and to speed up the replacement of essential surgical equipment and finance medical and nursing education and research for the unit.
GONC has so far enabled two nurses to benefit from specialist training which would not otherwise have been possible without the support of those who attended the event, which featured the Coronation Street Allstars against the Sky One Dream Team.
The extra cash from Fay's birthday bash means the pool of cash available is kept topped up.
For information about GONC or to make a donation you can write to Fay Armstrong, c/o Paintspot POBox 245, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7WR.
