This Is Essex partner the Evening Gazette has just presented its 36,000 name petition fighting to keep cancer services local to North Essex Health Authority.
Chairman Alec Sexton accepted it from one of our ardent campaign supporters, Phyllis Richardson, of Wivenhoe.
Mrs Richardson has been a patient of the oncology department in Colchester for the past six years, and in 1998 had a complete mastectomy.
In a message to Mr Sexton she said: "This petition voices the opinion of local people in Colchester and the surrounding areas - please listen.
"Having had treatment at this unit in Colchester, and after two operations and excellent care during that time, with continual follow-up support, I feel strongly that this service should remain in Colchester. I support the campaign 100 per cent."
Our high-profile campaign attracted the support of MPs, councils and thousands of cancer patients and their families from across Braintree, Chelmsford, Maldon, Colchester and Tendring.
It has already been pledged cancer services will stay in Colchester and services will be shared between there, Chelmsford and Ipswich.
The Evening Gazette recognises collaboration already takes place between the three towns and it is sensible and financially prudent for this to continue and be developed.
But many questions still have to be answered. Where is the money coming from to improve the service?
When will the cancer department move from its out-dated facilities in Colchester to the general hospital? Where will people have to travel for specialist cancer treatments?
In north Essex, 25 per cent of deaths are related to cancer - thousands will be affected by the disease.
We appeal to health chiefs not to underestimate your strength of feeling about this issue.
Accompanying our petitions were individual letters from local MPs supporting our campaign, including: Bob Russell (Colchester), Bernard Jenkin (North Essex), Simon Burns (West Chelmsford),Ivan Henderson (Harwich), John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford).
The petition being handed over to NEHA
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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