A PIONEERING cancer charity, founded by a woman from North Yorkshire, may fold if new volunteers cannot be found to help out.

Mitzi Blennerhassett, from Slingsby, founded the Cancer Concern Self-Help and Support Group 11 years ago, after suffering from two forms of cancer herself.

She has now decided to retire, at the age of 63, but says her final challenge will be to find a successor.

The group will vote at the end of the month on whether to fold due to a lack of volunteers, and Mitzi says she desperately hopes the vote will go the right way.

"We need a secretary, and fast," she said.

"It is very difficult to find volunteers, but it would be a terrible shame if the charity had to fold. It has been enormously rewarding for me to be involved, but the time has come to retire."

She said the secretary's job would not be very demanding, adding: "It would simply be a matter of putting together our information into a regular newsletter, and keeping tabs on things like reminding people of when the meetings are.

"The legwork of distributing the newsletter is done by someone else, so although it would demand energy, it would not be all-consuming.

"The person involved would not have to have had cancer themselves."

Mitzi will leave the role on a high note; her work has led her to contribute a chapter to a major new study of cancer treatment. She was approached to write for the book, Modernising Cancer Services, by its editor, Professor Mark Baker, after he became aware of her efforts.

Her chapter, entitled What Cancer Patients Need, addresses dozens of issues, including access to information, transport and ageism. Mitzi is the only non-medical contributor to the book; all the other chapters are written by specialists, surgeons and clinicians.

"I'm looking at cancer from a lay perspective," she said.

"They were interested in me because I started the support group, and I've been campaigning for improved cancer services ever since."

Modernising Cancer Services is available now, published by the Radcliffe Medical Press.

If you would like to apply for the role of secretary, or to become a volunteer, phone Mitzi on 01653 628369, or Moyra Walker on 01904 702053.

Updated: 14:01 Thursday, October 03, 2002