SWINDON CARES: JOHN Mills says he wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Macmillan nurses.

The 63-year-old was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer last year.

Macmillan nurses helped him come to terms with the disease immediately after the diagnosis and they have continued to support him.

So he is pleased that the Evening Advertiser's cancer campaign is benefiting from Swindon Care's fundraising efforts.

The charity's Swindon and Marlborough appeal aims to raise £600,000 over three years to pay for two more Macmillan nurses at the Great Western Hospital.

The money will also go towards care, which focuses on improving the quality for cancer sufferers.

The charity helped John find a new home in warden controlled Arthur Bennett Court in Birch Street and arranged a holiday in Bournemouth in a hotel staffed by Macmillan nurses.

He has a visit from a Macmillan nurse every couple of weeks and says their support has been invaluable.

"If I need any advice can just pick up the phone. They are there 24 hours a day.

"They are a shoulder to lean on and they give you all the help you need," John said.

He has carried on working three or four days a week as a general operative at Elmar plastic moulding manufacturers in Greenbridge.

"I have good and bad days but Macmillan nurses have seen me through this."

www.swindoncares.co.uk