THE breast cancer unit at York Hospital has been handed a cheque for £2,600 by the outgoing chairman of Selby District Council.

Coun Jack Crawford and his wife, Kathleen, were yesterday at The Magnolia Unit, where they presented the cheque to staff who will use the money to buy specialist surgical equipment.

The unit in York was one of three charities chosen by Coun Crawford to receive a share of £7,800 raised during his year in office.

He said: “A close relative of ours has been treated here and the care she has received had been excellent.

“We wanted to put something back, but not just for her, for all the women from the Selby district who come here.”

Throughout his year in office, Coun Crawford’s whole family organised several fundraising events including concerts at Selby Abbey and the Church of St Edward’s the Confessor in Brotherton, Proms in the Park, a chocolate tombola at Selby Christmas markets and manning Selby’s car parks on the bank holidays.

He said he had also received generous donations from members of the community. Macmillan Cancer Support and Barnardo’s have also taken a share of the money raised.

Consultant Ben Mancey-Jones, who received the cheque, said the money would be spent on a surgical instrument called an axillary retractor, used to hold patients steady during delicate surgical procedures.

Lucy Lowthian, fundraising manager for the York Teaching Hospital Charity, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Coun Crawford and his family throughout the last year and they have worked so hard to raise such a huge amount of money for his chosen charities. It is a significant amount that will make a huge difference to all our breast cancer patients in the unit and we would like to thank Coun Crawford and his family for their fantastic support.”