AFTER seeing her dad battling cancer, Hampshire schoolgirl Anja Arnott wanted to help others living with the disease. Sarah Cole reports...

FOR chatterbox Anja Arnott, it was the ultimate challenge.

The nine-year-old schoolgirl, who can "talk for England", had vowed to keep quiet for just over 12 hours.

Not a single word would utter from her lips from 7am to 7.30pm.

The only problem was remembering not to speak.

In a couple of dry-runs, Anja slipped up - so her mother Andrea came up with the bright idea of getting her to wear a surgical mask to remind her to keep mum.

The youngster wore the paper mask for the entire morning-to- evening stretch, only taking it off to eat and drink.

Her teachers at Abbotswood Junior School in Totton gave their backing, allowing Anja to keep her mask on during lessons and making sure she remained silent at all times.

With donations from friends and family, Anja's efforts raised £470.25 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Her sponsored silence touched fundraisers at Macmillan, who are battling to raise £1m to fund a cancer information and support centre at Southampton General Hospital.

Anja was inspired to do something to help after seeing her dad, Alan, win his battle against rectal cancer last year.

Alan, 48, who works in computer software, had been on holiday in the Dominican Republic when his symptoms first showed in June 2002.

When he returned home, they persisted so he booked in to see his GP.

Thinking he might have caught a bug while abroad, Alan was subsequently referred to Lymington Hospital, where he stayed overnight while tests were carried out.

Doctors took a biopsy from a growth discovered and, in the beginning of September, Alan was diagnosed with rectal cancer.

It was devastating news - particularly as by then his symptoms had vanished and he was feeling fine.

A keen road runner, Alan had always led a healthy lifestyle. A non-smoker, he was careful what he ate and drank only occasionally. In October 2002, Alan was admitted to Southampton General Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the lower section of his bowel.

Chemotherapy treatment followed and he was later given the all-clear. He still undergoes checks every three months but they will eventually become less frequent.

Speaking from the family home near Cadnam, Alan said: "Being told I had cancer was devastating.

"My consultant told me the tumour would have been there for about 18 months. If I had left it much longer, the chances of it spreading were high.

"I would say to anyone if you think there is anything at all wrong, get it checked out. Don't leave it.

"Men in particular tend to sweep things under the carpet but they should not be afraid of asking questions."

Alan and wife Andrea, 41, also parents to Aimee, 14, were deeply moved when their youngest daughter said she wanted to help raise money to fight cancer.

"Anja just sat down at the dinner table one day and said she wanted to do something to help," said Alan.

"It was entirely her own idea. She did it all in an unassuming way; it was a private and personal thing for her.

"We are both so proud of her. She is an incessant chatterbox so it was no mean feat."

The money has been presented to Connie McConachie, Macmillan Cancer Relief's £1m South Hampshire appeal manager. Every penny will help set up a dedicated cancer information and support centre to help hundreds of local people living with cancer, as well as their families and friends.

Alan said: "Macmillan played a big part in helping me. I think the new centre is a great idea."

Andrea said: "The NHS often gets such bad publicity but the care Alan has received has been second to none.

"Our thanks go to everyone - not just the doctors and nurses but the whole team, including the Macmillan nurses, the district nurses and the radiographers.

"Surviving cancer and coming out the other side, and having two children, has been a rollercoaster of emotions. It is not just the person themselves who is affected, but the whole family."

BOWEL CANCER - THE FACTS:

Colorectal cancer - also known as bowel cancer - affects the lower part of the digestive system (the large bowel and the rectum)

It is the third most common type of cancer in men and the second most common in women, killing around 20,000 people a year in the UK.

More than 35,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year.

The majority of cases are in the over 40s and most sufferers are over 60. The average age being about 70.

The chances of being cured are increased if people are aware of the symptoms and go to their GP early.

Although the exact cause of bowel cancer is not understood, it is known that genetics play a big part.

Colorectal cancer is more common as you get older but younger people can get it too.

Previous problems with chronic inflammatory bowel disease also appear to increase the risk of getting this type of cancer.

Eating a high fat, low-fibre diet and being overweight increases your risk of developing bowel cancer.

A high-fibre diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and carbohydrates is believed to lessen the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Moderate exercise may also protect against bowel cancer.

Symptoms are similar to common complaints such as piles and irritable bowel syndrome.

See your doctor if you experience blood flecks in your stools, a change in your regular bowel habits, abdominal pain or discomfort lasting two weeks or more, or unexplained weight loss.