Sandra visited the new chemotherapy unit, which was opened in March, and whose equipment will all be purchased with the money raised through the numerous fund-raising events to have been held in the past year, from a 1960s rock and roll event, to a comedy night with Alan Snell, as well as donations from all over the borough.

Sandra told the Advertiser: "I'm really just the name behind the charity, the response from people in Berwick and the surrounding area has been fantastic.

"People having birthdays and wedding anniversaries have raised money for the charity instead of getting presents, and Prior Park school has raised over £400 since Christmas, and Longridge Towers just gave me a cheque for £1000 the other day raised by a non-uniform day, a concert, and a cake stall. Jus-Rol donated £800 and provided a lot of food at the functions I've had, and I even got £50 off Chris Tarrant!

"Money has been coming in from all over, and there was a big response to the golf day and the Boxing Day dip, both raising about £4000, and the first civic ball in goodness knows how many years raised £1200 too.

"The support has been absolutely tremendous. I knew at the start I had to do something for the people of Berwick and the surrounding area, and I think that's why I've had so much support.

"For a while the total stopped at about £25,000, but then the unit opened and there was a really big response after that, after people saw where the money was going.

"It is benefiting quite a few local people already, and will be there for years to come. Even if they build a new hospital, the equipment will go into that.

"At the unit on Monday there were children there from Prior Park singing a really appropriate song about how you have got to have love and got to have heart; I don't think there was a dry eye in the ward. It was very emotional."

The new chemotherapy service at Berwick Infirmary is currently available two days a week, providing life-saving treatment for cancer patients from across the Borough. It builds on the success of a similar service at Hexham Hospital and will save Berwick patients travelling over a hundred miles to other hospitals for their treatment.

With the Chemo for Berwick charity staying open until August, to enable money raised from Sandra and Mayor, Lance Robson's 60th birthdays to be put towards the final total, Sandra hopes that the final amount raised will be over and above £40,000.

"I've really enjoyed my year," added Sandra. "I never thought I'd be in a position like this, and I've been able to go to Australia, Sri Lanka and Germany, and I've been aboard HMS Northumberland and the QE2. It has been really enjoyable."