A HARDWORKING Wyre Forest committee has raised a massive £400,000 for cancer research since it was set up 40 years ago.

The milestone marks a double celebration for the group's founder, Margaret Griffin, who has been presented with a long service award by Cancer Research UK.

The stalwart fund-raiser is the first to stress, however, that the success has been down to teamwork.

"Nobody can do anything on their own," she said. "I am a team person utterly and completely."

Mrs Griffin, an interior designer from Hartlebury, was asked to set up the committee with her late husband, Len - known to many as Griff - by the then Kidderminster mayor and close friend, Charles Talbot.

The Cancer Research Campaign had wanted a district branch established. The name changed to Cancer Research UK three years ago, with the merger of the charity and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Mr and Mrs Griffin ran the committee for many years organising various fund-raisers including balls that attracted 250 people, running flag days and tombolas, with prizes donated by Kidderminster businesses.

"We were both professionals and we relied heavily on the support of other businesses in the town as well as friends," she said.

Sadly, Mr Griffin, who owned the Empire Carpet Company, himself died from cancer 17 years ago.

"We were asked to start the committee because we were business people, not because we had any experience of cancer," said Mrs Griffin, adding: "I do it because I believe in it. Prevention is better than cure and if we don't do it the money won't come out of thin air.

"People are getting better and they are living longer. There have been massive developments which will continue.

"If we can stop people dying it saves all the misery and cancer affects everyone in our community, not just the people who have it."

The 75-year-old mother-of-three described the £400,000 landmark as "fantastic," and, while sorting out the seating plan for this month's fund -raising dinner, said she definitely had no thoughts of retiring.