FORMER Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell has backed the Shorter Journeys – Longer Lives campaign to bring a radiotherapy unit to Kendal.

The high-profile cancer survivor spoke out to praise efforts to cut journey times for South Lakeland patients by petitioning for cancer services at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

Sir Campbell was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2002, but made a full recovery after intensive chemotherapy.

He learned he was clear just two days before candidacy had to be declared for the 2005 General Election and went on lead the party a year later.

The 70-year-old MP said: “Radiotherapy can be a very intense experience, not only for the patient but also for their families and friends.”

“The patient experiences not only the physical toll of the treatment but also the disruption to life that daily trips to the hospital can cause.

“Undergoing radiotherapy can make you feel exhausted, both mentally and physically, when even getting out of bed takes a great deal of effort.

“Having a radiotherapy unit within a manageable distance is of great importance to the patient’s ability to get through a challenging and sometimes harrowing experience.

“That is why this campaign is so important. I greatly benefited from having a hospital close to where I lived.”