A MATRON is going to new heights to fundraise for a new state of the art cancer centre.

Donna Booton, who was a matron for the cancer unit at Colchester General Hospital for ten years, will be scaling the walls of Colchester town hall.

She is taking on the challenge with two friends to raise funds for the Gazette-backed Cancer Centre Campaign, which hopes to raise £3.25 million to build a state of the art cancer centre on the Turner Road hospital site.

The development would see the chemotherapy and haematology services brought next door to the radiotherapy unit.

Donna, who is now a matron for quality assurance and compliance at the hospital, said she was doing it for both personal and professional reasons.

She said: “On reflection this is something I need to do. I was a cancer matron for ten years, I know the team really well and I know the chemo unit is not the place for patients to be looked after - there’s so much potential.

“I also have friends with cancer whose experiences will be so much better.”

She is taking on the “mad” challenge with friends and colleagues, Carrie- Ann Grover and Jo Wilding.

She admitted it was a crazy idea for her, but she felt it was an important way of raising awareness and thanking those who have shown continuous support.

Donna added: “I’ve never done anything like this, I’m a little bit nervous but excited.

“I really enjoyed my time on the cancer unit, it’s a fantastic team and it was a pleasure to work with them.

“We all though at the beginning it was so much money to raise, but to be able to do it is just amazing.

“It is thanks to the public and our patients.”

The trio will abseil down the town hall, in High Street, on September 3. To find out how to join the team, visit the Colchester Hospitals Charity website.

To donate to the appeal, text Gaze11 £10 to 70070 or whatever amount readers wish to donate.

Alternatively, can sign up for fundraising events or donate money to the appeal via the CoHoc website on www.cohoc.org.uk.