DURING her long and brave battle with cancer, Mary Webb, of Bilsington, pledged to raise funds to buy a specialist scanner for the William Harvey Hospital to help cut patients’ distress.

Patients at the Celia Blakey care unit have to wait up to a week for results of tests, which are taken in Ashford but have to be sent up to London for diagnosis.

The new scanner, which will cost £50,000, will reduce that anxious wait to a single day.

Mrs Webb, who died in January, had raised £2,130 towards the fund, including £1,670 donated from the Kentish Express Big Quiz held in Ashford’s Stour Centre in the autumn.

Now the Kentish Express is backing the launch of the Mary Webb Cancer Appeal.

Her efforts have been continued in her memory by daughter Libby Harrison and son Jon Webb.

Organisers are planning a series of high-profile events which will be announced over the coming weeks.

But for the moment, donations can be made payable to EKHT Charitable Fund.

Craft Fair

Mrs Harrison will be running a series of major events for the fund, including continuing the big annual Bilsington Priory craft fair on Saturday, June 24, and a fund-raising ball in the autumn.

She said: “We are determined to provide this vital equipment at the hospital and the family is delighted that the Kentish Express is backing everyone’s efforts.