A TELEVISION presenter who lost her celebrity daughter to breast cancer has praised plans for the Worcester breast unit after it was awarded nearly £10,000 by the foundation set up in her memory.

Gloria Hunniford wrote a letter to praise the excellent work of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign and to confirm that the Caron Keating Foundation would be awarding the charity £9,720 to pay for six treatment couches, vital in the treatment of all breast care patients.

Mrs Hunniford, who has appeared on programmes including Gloria Live, Wogan, Holiday, Songs of Praise, That’s Showbusiness, Kilroy and Open House with Gloria Hunniford, wrote: “We admire what you are achieving through your various projects and ongoing dedication and we are thrilled to be able to support you in a small way.

“We should like Caron’s name to be included in any of your press releases or if possible, that the Caron Keating Foundation should be visibly displayed in association with any of your projects. We hope you go from strength to strength.”

Caron Keating, like her famous mum, appeared in a number of high profile programmes including Top of the Pops, 4th Dimension, Wide Angle and This Morning with Richard Madeley and Phillip Schofield. The mother of two died peacefully at her mother’s home in Kent of breast cancer in April 2004 at the age of 41.

The Foundation was set up her mother Gloria Hunniford and brothers Paul and Michael and helps cancer charities across the country.

Geoff Howard, the campaign director of the breast unit, said: “What’s gratifying is that Gloria Hunniford says that they took a personal interest in the project they support. It is a specialist grant for treatment couches. It is all very encouraging, particularly in these economic times when the ability of foundations to give is under pressure.”

Breast surgeon Steven Thrush said: “It’s great that a national charity has donated towards the breast unit campaign. These couches are an essential part of the way we see patients.”

Cherry Robinson, aged 57, of Osier Close, off Bath Road, Worcester, one of the original calendar girls who launched the campaign in October 2009, had breast cancer diagnosed in 1997 and with secondary cancer four years later but continues to fight on and help others through her role as chairman of the Worcester Breast Cancer Support Group, also actively involved in fund-raising for the unit.

Mrs Robinson said: “This is going to help the campaign even more and raise its profile. I read Caron’s story at the time and it gave me a lot of hope when I was going through it all. What the Foundation has done is absolutely superb.”

Campaigners continue to work to raise £1.8 million towards creating the unit in an existing building at 220 Newtown Road on the site of Worcestershire Royal Hospital. So far more than £847,000 has been raised which is nearing the halfway point.

Campaign director Geoff Howard made a renewed appeal to Worcester News readers to help the campaign reach the milestone.

Mr Howard said: “Psychologically the halfway point is important. There are also certain funding sources that won’t let you apply until you have got to the halfway mark.”