A PROFESSIONAL cricketer is now a patron of a campaign to create a dedicated breast unit in Worcester after his friend bravely battled the disease.

Worcestershire county cricketer Matt Mason will be celebrating his testimonial year this year and has chosen to raise money for Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign during his year of celebrations.

The campaign, supported by your Worcester News from the beginning, seeks to create a dedicated unit at 220 Newtown Road on the site of Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mr Mason said: “I have had a fantastic 10 years since joining Worcestershire from Western Australia and as well as a successful cricket career I have made many good friends.

“One of those friends was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

“Susie Coleman, who is one of the faces of the charity, fought a very brave and difficult battle to overcome the disease.

“It was Susie who made me aware of the plight of so many women who face this disease and who inspired me to support this very special campaign and one I am very proud to do so during my testimonial year.”

Mr Mason will be holding a series of events throughout 2012 for his testimonial and will be making a significant contribution to the breast unit campaign.

Campaign director Geoff Howard said: “The campaign is extremely grateful for this exceptional support from Matt.

“This is doubly generous as not only will the campaign benefit from the contribution that he will make to the profile of the campaign as one of its patrons, but also from the generous gift of 10 per cent of his testimonial receipts.”

The first event to launch his testimonial year is a black tie dinner to be held at Malvern College on Friday, March 2, where Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, will be guest speaker.

When it is completed the unit will mean women and men can receive their care under one roof rather than at clinics spread out within the main hospital and over several floors.

The unit will be designed to be less clinical and more comfortable and efforts have been made to consult patients to influence the design so it is the best possible environment for their care.