Three new posts will be created

A woman who lost both her parents to cancer has spoken of the need to improve support services in north Wales.

Maureen Jones from Mold in Flintshire made her call as Macmillan Cancer Relief launched its latest appeal to raise �850,000 in the region.

The national charity wants to fund three nursing posts in local hospitals and also set up a separate therapies project in Wrexham.

Six thousand people are diagnosed with cancer each week. The disease remains one of the UK's biggest killers.

Both my parents died very young of cancer and we really appreciated the Macmillan nurse who helped us Maureen Jones

The charity wants to employ three specialist nurses in Bangor, Glan Clwyd and Llandudno.

An occupational therapist, a dietician and a physiotherapist would take up posts in Wrexham under the scheme.

Mrs Jones, 58, said the Macmillan nurses had made dealing with her family's illness more bearable.

"Both my parents died very young of cancer and we really appreciated the Macmillan nurse who helped us," she said.

"My sister and I had teenage children and the loss of my father was traumatic for me.

"The Macmillan nurses came in, visited the family regularly and spoke to the children, it was invaluable to my son who was 16 at the time - he appreciated their help.

"I don't think people realise how invaluable these nurses are.

"We were lucky to have them at the time, I know that now - with losing friends, both my in-laws died of cancer related illnesses and I recently lost an uncle too."

Macmillan Cancer Relief fundraising manager Cleo de Vito said �850,000 was not a lot to raise once the figures were broken down.

"To raise the money in three years we need 49p per person per year from every person who lives in north Wales," she said.

The appeal is officially launched on Tuesday.