A YOUNG woman was so grateful when the NHS saved her mother’s life she has helped raise £1,727 towards a care unit which will save even more lives.

Staff at Debenhams in Worcester have together raised the cash towards the new unit at 220 Newtown Road following the death of a colleague and as a big thank you for saving the life of a manager’s mum.

The money was raised for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign over four weeks through a range of initiatives, including customers donating £1 with their purchases and raffles.

Staff organised a number of events comprising a craft week, a sponsored walk over the Malvern Hills and sales of home-made food.

Sales manager at Debenhams, Stacey Davies, said: “We chose the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign as my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

“When mum was sick there was absolutely nothing that I could do that was going to actually cure her; what the hospital did for her saved her life. There is nothing I will ever be able to do that will be enough to thank them for that.

“Even now I cannot put in to words just how immensely grateful I am to all the work that Worcestershire Royal Hospital does for patients and their families and for the unrelenting bravery my mum showed. Thanks to this she is now in remission.

“Cancer sadly claimed a colleague (Gail Hardiman) and friend in the store last year and many have had their own personal battles with the disease, so it was something that was very close to home for all of us in the store.

“When I told my colleagues that I was looking to raise money for the breast unit it became apparent that really everyone knows someone. “The reaction I received was really positive and people really wanted to help a local charity.”

During the four-week fund-raising event, the 24-year-old was so overwhelmed by the generosity from the general public and Debenhams staff that she wanted to do more to support the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign so she decided to make a monthly donation to the charity.

She is also planning to organise a future event to raise further funds for the breast unit.

Fund-raisers need less than £150,000 before work can begin on the new unit, a one-stop shop for breast care patients in the county which mean shorter waits in a more comfortable, less clinical setting with clinics all together under one roof.