Local residents urged to join MP in cancer unit petition handover

12.30.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Aug 2009

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is set to join thousands of local residents as he hands over his petition for a cancer treatment unit in Kendal on 3 October 2009. Tim will also be highlighting the distance cancer patients currently have to travel by walking through the night from the Royal Preston Hospital to the Westmorland General.

Tim will be setting off from the Rosemere cancer treatment unit at Royal Preston Hospital at lunchtime on Friday 2 October, walking the 40 miles to Kendal. He will arrive at Kirkbie Kendal School's playing fields at around 10am on Saturday 3 October and is urging local residents to join him on the final leg of his walk to meet him at the school before walking up to the hospital.

Commenting, Tim said: "Over 7,000 local residents have signed my petition for a cancer treatment unit in Kendal, and many people have come forward with stories about the gruelling journeys they have to make to Preston for cancer treatment.

"Local health officials have always made it clear that public support will be vital if we are to achieve our aim and get a cancer treatment unit in Kendal. I'm therefore very grateful to the thousands of local residents who have signed my petition, and I would urge everyone to join me on the final leg of my walk to handover the petition on Saturday 3 October.

"We have had fantastically successful marches in Kendal in recent years as we've fought to defend our hospital. Now we are on the offensive as we seek to build-up Westmorland General - let's make sure that thousands of us turn out again as we seek to win our fight for cancer unit for local people."