The new Mayor of Trowbridge, Peter Fuller, has chosen the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG) as one of his two mayoral charities.

All fundraising by the mayor this year will be in aid of the Trowbridge branch of the BCUSG, which provides vital medical equipment and services for cancer patients at Bath’s RUH and Dorothy House Hospice Care in Winsley.

The BCUSG recently hit its fundraising target of £340,000 towards the cost an advanced gamma camera which will provide full body images for cancer diagnosis in half the time it currently takes.

But the charity also needs to raise money for a quiet room at the RUH for patients receiving palliative care and portable ultrasound scanners for the treatment of breast cancer patients.

“I am delighted to name the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group as one of the charities for the town to support during my mayoral year,” said Cllr Fuller.

“My wife had an off and on battle with breast cancer for over 20 years and during that long period, had unstinting help and care from all at the RUH.

“Cancer is a terrible disease which, in one way or another, affects us all and it is a privilege for me and the staff of the town council to help the Bath Cancer Unit in this way.

“We are living through a period when we are relying on the NHS as never before and I hope that all of the town will join with us in helping in a small way to continue the fight against cancer.”

Sue Oliver, the newly-elected chairman of the BCUSG’s Trowbridge fundraising branch, said: “We would like to thank the Mayor for choosing us as one of his official charities.

“We would also like to offer Cllr Fuller our very best wishes for his mayoral year and we look forward to working closely with him to raise much-needed funds for the Bath Cancer Unit.

“I’m delighted to be taking over as chair of the Trowbridge branch and I wish my predecessor, Tino Polledri, well in his retirement after more than 30 years with the charity -he will be a tough act to follow.

“I’m really looking forward to working with our local volunteers to help improve outcomes for cancer patients at the RUH.”

The Trowbridge branch, which covers the whole of West Wiltshire, is seeking new helpers and supporters and those who would like to become committee members.

Anyone interested in joining the branch in any capacity should contact Mike Taylor by e-mail at chairman@bcusg.org