A YORK-based skin cancer nurse - who supported 400 people with the disease in York last year alone - is backing a £380,000 fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Lucy Skelton has worked as a Macmillan skin cancer nurse specialist based at York Hospital since 2010.

She is supporting the Macmillan Charity Raceday which returns to York Racecourse on June 14, where an afternoon of horse racing will run alongside fundraising for Macmillan. Money raised will help fund Macmillan services to provide support to anyone affected by cancer.

In North and East Yorkshire alone, there are currently more than 140 Macmillan professionals working in clinical environments and in the community.

Lucy said: "I am there for patients from the moment they are given their diagnosis by a doctor. It’s a huge shock for most people but I’m there to help them understand what is happening and I stay with them for their whole cancer journey. I set this service up. Before, there just wasn’t anything like this for patients.”

Lucy provides support, advice and information to skin cancer patients face-to-face or over the phone for as long as they need, even when they are in remission.

She added: “Many people are nervous about skin cancer returning and get back in touch with me if they spot anything unusual. I would rather they were cautious though. Even now, with sun awareness messages being more prominent than they used to be, many people dismiss skin cancer as something that will never happen to them.”

Macmillan Charity Raceday is a collaboration between Macmillan Cancer Support, the UK’s largest cancer care and support charity, and York Racecourse. The annual event is into its 44th year and has raised more than £5.8 million for Macmillan and other good causes over the years.

Lucy has some sun awareness tips for the 25,000 plus spectators expected to enjoy Macmillan Charity Raceday.

She said: “I hope everyone enjoys the day and can give what they can to Macmillan, which is a fantastic cause to support. You can stay safe in the sun by covering up and wearing sun screen of at least 30, which should be regularly applied. It also helps to stay in the shade and to wear a hat.”

To take advantage of early bird and group rate advance tickets and further details, visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk