ONE of the most senior politicians in England has pledged his support to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, is becoming a patron of the charity following the death of a close friend.
Lord Falconer said: "The foundation funds not only vital research into the early detection of the disease but also supports patients via a network of groups and runs vital smoking cessation services.
"I will be helping to raise the profile of the charity to attract more funding and also recommending my peers in both Houses to pledge their support and help.
"I would urge people to help the charity in whatever way they can, be it through corporate support or fundraising."
The charity is named after Scholes-born entertainer Roy Castle who died of lung cancer just two days after his 62nd birthday in 1994.
In 15 years it has raised over £12m to help fight the disease that 38,000 people are diagnosed with in the UK every year.
Prof Ray Donnelly, founder of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: "We aim to build on the relationships we've developed at Westminster to put lung cancer on the national health agenda.
"It is the biggest cancer killer - with more people dying of the disease than of breast and prostate cancer put together."
