A BRAVE Hampshire grandmother, who has spent the past seven years battling lymphoma, has raised more than £3,000 to help fellow cancer patients.

Denise Mason recruited her friends and family to join her in Macmillan Cancer Relief's Miles Challenge in May.

Together the group walked three miles through the New Forest, raising a total of £3,300 for the charity's South Hampshire Appeal.

The cash will go to the Daily Echo-backed appeal to raise £1m to fund a cancer information and support centre at Southampton General Hospital.

Denise, of Totton, who has just undergone six months of treatment, said: "As a cancer patient myself, I felt I wanted to put something back into the system.

"I am sure a cancer information and support centre will be very well used. I think it is desperately needed for people in the area like myself who just want to go in for an informal chat.

"My family and friends have been great but sometimes you really need to talk to someone who knows what you are going through."

Denise was one more than 50,000 people all over the country who took part in this year's Macmillan Miles Challenge.

Most chose to walk, cycle or swim, but some supporters skated, line danced or roller-bladed their mile.

All proceeds from local events will go towards the South Hampshire Appeal to fund a state-of-the-art information and support centre. Although based in Southampton, the facility will cater for people from across south Hampshire as well as parts of Wiltshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

Friends and family members will be as welcome as cancer patients at the centre, which will have a welcoming atmosphere and offer everything from counselling to complementary treatments.

Fundraisers have already hit the halfway point and building work has started, but thousands more pounds need to be raised before the centre can open its doors.

To find out how you can help, contact Macmillan Cancer Relief on 023 8023 6367.