PLAN for our future!

That's the plea to politicians this week from Halton cancer campaigners as the NHS Cancer Plan for England runs out in 2010.

The Hugs Club, part of Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group, is backing Cancer Research UK in urging the Government to develop a comprehensive strategy.

Dee Graal, the charity's founder, said: "More people are surviving cancer for many years which is obviously fantastic news but society must not get complacent. Positive survival rates are tempered by the fact that cancer incidence is on the rise.

"This is because it is predominantly a disease that affects older people and as more people are living longer, so an increasing number are developing cancer."

Dee's husband, Bren died from bowel cancer in 1991.

"When I lost my husband, there was nothing in existence like Hugs and it was a difficult time," she said.

"But we've come a long way since then and the group is making a really positive difference to people's lives."

Almost 100,000 people have already signed the Cancer 2020 petition, insisting cancer does not slip down the political agenda.

Visit cancer2020.org or visit the Cancer Research UK shop, in Widnes Road, to sign the petition.

Hugs is based at Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Centre, 21-23 Alforde Street, Widnes. It is open from 10am-3pm Monday to Friday. Call 0151 423 5730 to find out more.