THE co-founder of a cancer charity which has been shortlisted for a national award says the organisation's achievements have gone "beyond our wildest dreams".

York Against Cancer was chosen as a finalist for the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards after it was nominated by Nigel Adams, MP for Selby, Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer and Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central.

The charity, which was founded in 1987, has recently launched Yorkshire's first mobile chemotherapy unit. It also hands out thousands of sun hats to pupils across York as part of a skin cancer awareness campaign, offers patients complementary treatments such as aromatherapy and invites them to spend quality time with their families at one of the charity's holiday homes in Filey and Whitby.

Prof Steve Leveson, chairman of the organisation, said staff and volunteers are delighted to be shortlisted.

Prof Leveson, who is a founding member of the charity and a former surgeon at York Hospital, said: "It is rewarding. When we started out we had no idea who much we were going to raise, we were aiming for £40,000 but over the past 30 years we have raised nearly £17 million. It has been way beyond our wildest dreams."

Staff from the charity have been invited to the awards ceremony at the House of Commons on July 4, when the national winners will be announced. Prof Leveson will also stand down as chairman in July and said he is particularly proud of the organisation's recent achievements - the new £700,000 mobile chemotherapy unit and respite holiday homes.

He said: "It's been a very exciting time for the charity.

"The mobile chemotherapy unit brings treatment to their doorstep and takes pressure off the hospital.

"The charity is small enough to be very personal and our volunteers are very valued."

The chemotherapy unit brings treatment closer to home for patients in areas such as Selby, Scarborough, Malton and Bridlington, who would usually have to travel to York for care.

Up to 10 people a day can be treated at the unit, which costs about £1,000 a day to run.

The parliamentary awards are part of celebrations for the NHS's 70th birthday on July 5.

MPs were invited to nominate health heroes in their constituency for the prizes.

York Against Cancer was named regional champion in the Excellence in Cancer Care category.

NHS Improvement regional medical director, Dr Vincent Connolly, said: “I was impressed by the high standard of all the entries we received in the north, the ones we put forward are really the best of the best.

"I’m sure everyone will be rooting for our regional champions when the national winners are decided.”

To find out more visit yorkagainstcancer.org.uk.