A CANCER survivor has smashed her fundraising target - and is now working towards another one.

Mary Parfitt underwent a mastectomy as well as chemo and radiotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

After she completed her treatment, she was determined to raise money for Colchester's new cancer centre and aimed for £5,000.

She said: "I set myself a target to raise the money in three years. It is coming up for two years now and I have already passed it."

Grandmother Mary, 53, of Kiltie Road, Tiptree, raised the money by donating her earnings from selling Avon products.

She said: "My customers have been so supportive, they know why I am selling it and the money is going to the Cancer Centre Campaign.

"I think if I was earning money for myself I would have stopped by now but it is an inspiration to raise money for the appeal."

Now she is aiming to raise another £5,000 for the appeal.

Mary, who works for Tesco in Tiptree, added: "We have all lost friends to cancer and one in two people will be affected by it.

"At the moment, it is a quarter of a mile from the Mary Barron suite, where you get chemotherapy, to the radiotherapy suite.

"That is a long way when people are ill and for the consultants to continually go.

"It would be so much better to have everything in one place including the support for patients and their families."

Mary will also be singing with the choir Tiptree Sings on Saturday. Organisers of the concert will raise funds for the Cancer Centre Campaign.

Mary said: "The choir was formed just as I got my diagnosis. I carried on going as much as I could and everyone was so supportive."

The campaign, which is supported by the Gazette, needs to raise £4.5 million to build a new cancer centre on top of the radiotherapy centre at Colchester General Hospital.

So far, £1.4 million has been raised but more money is desperately needed.

Anyone wanting to donate can do so by texting GAZE11 £10 to 70070 (or chose a different amount).

Cheques can be made payable to CoHoC Cancer Centre Campaign and sent to Colchester Hospitals Charity, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL.

Donations can also be made online by going to www.CohoC.org.uk.