Ref. 30018-51FOUR women will be spurred on by their bosses as they jump from a tall building on May Day.

Karen Wilson, Nickie Daly, Donna Romain and Sue Bicker-staff, who all work for Thames Water, will abseil down the WH Smith building at Greenbridge in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Relief appeal.

And their company will match the cash they raise.

All four have known people who have suffered from cancer and wanted to help the £600,000 three-year campaign sponsored by the Evening Advertiser.

"I'm doing it because one of my best friends, Tracy Leonard, was diagnosed with breast cancer a week before Christmas and my nan, Alice Pitt, died from cancer five years ago," said Karen who lives in Ferndale Road.

Tracy, who underwent surgery in January and is now having chemotherapy, said: "I think all four of the women who are going to do this abseil are brilliant. Karen doesn't even like heights."

With Thames Water's matching grant, the four are hoping to raise at least £2,000

"I'm doing it because I know what a good cause this is," said 45-year-old Sue Bickerstaff of Southby Avenue.

"My dad, Jan Dudzik, was looked after by Macmillan nurses before he died five years ago, and sadly several of my other relatives have had cancer.

"I don't really have a head for heights, either."

Donna Romain, a 31-year-old mother of three, said: "Sue was the one who talked me into it, but I've known several people who have had cancer."

Offers of sponsorship for the abseil on May 1 are welcome. Call Karen on 01793 424555.

l The Swindon Cancer Appeal was launched a year ago and aims to raise £600,000 for two Macmillan nurses and a consultant in a palliative care, to be based at the Great Western Hospital.

The money will pay for their work for three years, after which time the NHS will take over. The campaign has already amassed £357,929.