A POTTER who has battled cancer has created ‘boob banks’ in a bid to raise cash for a dedicated breast care unit in Worcester.

Sandra Kitching, of JETS Pottery Painting, has been inspired by the battle of loved ones fighting cancer and winning her own battle against leukaemia.

Mrs Kitching, founder of the Bromsgrove-based pottery painting studio, is inviting people to paint and buy ‘boob banks’ – boob-shaped money boxes – at her shop in Harwood Park.

She said: “I’m charging £15 for people to visit my shop and paint their own boob bank – with £10 going to the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign. The boob banks can also be purchased via special gift vouchers.”

The Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign is a registered charity aiming to raise £2.5 million to fund a new, dedicated breast unit at 220 Newtown Road on the site of Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Your Worcester News has supported the campaign since before its launch last October. Almost 500 people in Worcestershire are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

With the support of a small group of trustees and volunteers the campaign was initiated in 2007 by consultant breast surgeon Steven Thrush, who said: “There is great goodwill and support for the new breast unit among the people of the county.”

Mrs Kitching said: “I heard about the breast unit appeal through my regular business networking group – Women in Rural Enterprise – and saw it as the perfect opportunity to give something back for all the support received by loved ones and myself during our battles with cancer.”

Carole Crowe, campaign co-ordinator for the breast unit ‘Everybody knows Somebody’ campaign, said charity leaders were grateful for Mrs Kitching’s support.

For further information about the boob banks, call 01527 873866, e-mail sandrakitching@JETSPotteryPainting.co.uk or visit .jetspotterypainting.co.uk.

For further information about The Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign, call 01905 733786, e-mail office@everybodyknowssomebody.co.uk or go to everybodyknowssomebody.co.uk