Ref. 30736-51SWINDON CANCER APPEAL:KEITH Crump hasn't let lung cancer stop him raising thousands of pounds in aid of treatment and research of the disease.

The 65-year-old, who used to run the award-winning Crump and Son butchers in Wootton Bassett, organised a pig roast in his back garden, which resulted in £3,170 in donations.

He is sharing the money between Cancer Research UK and the Swindon Cancer Appeal, which aims to raise £600,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Mr Crump says the help he has received from Macmillan nurses is invaluable.

"They are great," he said. "They are somebody to talk to if you have any worries. Just knowing they are there is a great comfort because you don't feel abandoned.

"They are at the end of the phone whenever you need them."

He was diagnosed with cancer last year and has undergone an intensive course of radiotherapy

"It is unknown ground for us," he said. "I can't have chemotherapy because my heart is in too bad a condition.

"I was half expecting to have the disease because I smoked and my father died of it.

"It was down to me. It was my fault. I had cut down to smoking but it was too late.

"But we are doing OK, every day is a good day. I am all fired up and looking forward to the future. I am too busy to die."

Mr Crump's passion is garden-ing and he installed a waterfall and a small pond before the pig roast. Around 150 people flocked into his garden in New Road for the event.

"I think cancer affects everybody in some way or another. There seems to be so many people suffering from it," he said.

"That's why I am so in favour of research. We need to find some answers."

Mr Crump, who is married to Jean, retired six years ago.

The couple have three children and a grandson.

Their son Andy took over the High Street business, which is a member of the prestigious Q Guild.

Their products have been given platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards by the guild.

l THE Swindon Cancer Appeal aims to raise £600,000 in three years. After just over a year of fundraising, it now stands at £373,566.

The cash will pay for two specialist Macmillan nurses and a consultant in palliative care, who will support people living with cancer in Swindon and Marlborough.

The money will pay for the posts for three years, after which time the NHS will take over the funding.

To register a fundraising event contact appeal manager Graziella Campisano on 01793 601636, or visit the appeal office at Ambrose House, Milton Road, Swindon.

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.

Bhavani Vadde