A RALLYING cry has gone out for people to join this Saturday’s march to help bring radiotherapy services to South Lakeland.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has called on the public to walk through the town centre in a bid to convince hospital bosses that a £12 million radiotherapy unit is needed at Kendal’s Westmorland General Hospital.

Hundreds of supporters are expected to meet at Abbot Hall park, setting off at 12.30pm, to process along Dowker’s Lane and Highgate before ending up at the Birdcage in Kendal town centre.

The plan is to gather at the Birdcage and then formally hand over the 9,000-signature petition to health bosses.

Cumbria’s director of public health Professor John Ashton will receive the petition on behalf of the NHS. The Westmorland Gazette also ran its successful Shorter Journeys Longer Lives campaign and its 3,000-name petition will be handed over by the paper’s senior head of content, Andrew Thomas.

A jazz band has volunteered to play for marchers, while supporters can pick up campaign posters from organisers at Abbot Hall park.

“This Saturday I hope thousands of local residents will join with me to march for a radiotherapy centre,” said Mr Farron.

“I am doing this in memory of my mum who sadly died of cancer and for the hundreds of people in the South Lakes who have to do a two-hour round trip to Preston for radiotherapy.

“I hope NHS bosses will listen to our call and help end this gruelling trek for vital treatment – with your help on Saturday we can bring radiotherapy to Kendal.”

Cancer fighter David Hill, 78, of Windermere, is one of those expected to join in the march.

He was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in January last year and had to travel from Windermere to the nearest radiotherapy centre in Preston for 37 sessions.

He said travelling to Preston wa stressful and a centre at Kendal would reduce travel by 75 miles a day – 3,000 miles in total.

He added: “I was fortunate to have friends who relieved me from driving myself on one day in each of the eight weeks. Driving myself on the remaining 26 days was tiring and, particularly driving home on the M6 after treatment, very stressful. I hope hundreds turn up on Saturday.”