A LOVING wife has launched a fundraising drive for a new cancer centre after her husband was diagnosed with the disease.

Maggie Henderson, 76, of Ramsey, juggles her career with caring for her husband John, who is battling bowel cancer.

She has pulled together friends and volunteers to drive up funding for a new cancer centre for Colchester General Hospital.

John Henderson, 78, was diagnosed with cancer six months ago and has received chemotherapy at the hospital.

“Every family in north-east Essex will need this centre at some point in their lives,” said Mrs Henderson.

“John has had his chemotherapy, but the old unit is out of date and a new one is desperately needed.

“John gets a lot of pain and it’s very difficult at the moment, but the support is there and only a phone call away.

“With limited space, they do their jobs with a smile on their face. It is vital that we get this centre.”

Their first fundraiser will see volunteers Ruth Ring and Kayleen Smith shave their heads at the Hanover Inn, in Church Street, Harwich, in an effort to raise £1,000.

Ruth, of Harwich, lost her mother to cancer when she was 20 months old and then her father in 2012.

“Colchester hospital did everything they could for my dad,” she said.

“They gave us more time with him.

"They gave him and us compassion and care and they fought alongside him.”

Ruth and Kayleen will face their head-shave on July 2.

Another fundraiser will be a table-top sale, running at the Park Pavillion, in Barrack Lane, Harwich, on July 30, including face painting for youngsters.

The £4.5 million appeal for funding is the biggest in Colchester General Hospital’s history and has so far raised £1.3 million.

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/CancerCentreCampaign.