EMOTIONS were running high on Saturday when terminally ill cancer sufferer Michael Pope was joined by family and friends for his 70th birthday fundraiser at Spencer Sport and Social Club.

Mr Pope, who lives in Melksham with wife Marian, was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009 before being given the all clear following an operation, but 18 months ago he was told the cancer had returned and was terminal.

He was given 12 months to live without chemotherapy and 18 months with treatment, but decided last year that he wanted to do something to give back to the Oncology department at the Royal United Hospital for the support he has received.

Around 200 attended the fundraiser, which encouraged people to donate to charity rather than bring presents or cards, with the event raising over £2,000 for the RUH’s Positron Scanner Appeal.

Mr Pope, who worked at Avon Rubber for 44 years and as a retained firefighter for 21 years, said: “It was beyond our wildest dreams. It was a really wonderful evening and we have managed to raise over £2,000 so far.

“The girls from ASDA were brilliant and did a fabulous job selling raffle tickets for us, while the amount of donations we received was amazing. We were completely blown away.

“It was very emotional and to see my friends in the fire brigade again, as well as other former colleagues, was wonderful. It was a fantastic evening and everything went perfectly.

“The biggest raffle prize was a car valeting service, while we also had prizes donated by ASDA and Whitehall Garden Centre. We really can’t thank everyone enough for supporting the event.”

The Bath Cancer Unit Support Group set out to raise £1.2m for the Positron Scanner, which will transform the treatment of certain cancers at the RUH, with the total already surpassing £1m.

Patients from Bath and the surrounding area who need PET-CT scans currently have to travel to Cheltenham for the nearest scanner, but a Positron Scanner at the RUH will result in a much shorter journey for cancer patients.

Mr Pope added: “Towards the end of the evening, me and Marian were invited to take to the dance floor for Foreigner’s I Want To Know What Love Is and then we thanked everyone for their support and reiterated the reason we were doing it.

“This disease will be beaten one day and the more money we can raise to support cancer charities the quicker that time will come hopefully. The evening was quite overwhelming and everyone kept coming up to me and putting and arm around me.”