A WRITER who lost her mother to breast cancer and battled the illness herself read out her poems at a book launch to boost Worcester's breast unit.

Wordsmith Tracey Jacob of Knightwick, west of Worcester, is passionate about the advantages of the new unit in Worcester and hopes her poetic powers can raise £20,000 for the cause. The mother-of-two read out poems from "Dot's Ditties" at Lemore Manor in Herefordshire for her book in aid the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign.

The campaign, which remains the chosen charity of the Worcester News, seeks to create a one-stop shop for breast care patients across Worcestershire, based at 220 Newtown Road in Worcester near the main hospital.

Mrs Jacob, aged 47, lost her mother, Hilary Dorrell, to breast cancer in 2006 and is now fighting the illness herself after finishing treatment last July.

At the launch she read several poems, all tongue-in-cheek observational pieces designed to make readers chuckle. Sales of the book, priced £7.99, will go directly towards paying for the unit and have so far raised £1,000.

She said of the unit: "It will offer a really essential service to the people of Worcestershire so they can take away the uncertainty and the stress that is involved with the diagnosis of breast cancer. It will also relieve pressure on the hospital somewhat because all the patients who would normally be waiting in line for diagnosis and equipment will be able to go straight to the breast unit. It will be a place where people undergoing treatment can go and and get some relief from the gruelling effects of treatment." She said the charity campaign kept the funds within Worcestershire where they could benefit the people of the county.

Guests at the Therapy, Lunch and Fizz event on May 9 enjoyed a three course lunch featuring healthy, seasonal ingredients.

Half-hour treatments including massages, facials and manicures were also available in the Eardisley venue’s therapy suite.

Margaret Owen, owner of Lemore Manor, and a close friend of Mrs Jacob who made the fundraising event possible, said: “Tracey has been a good friend for many years and we’re delighted that so many people came along to support her.

“Many of our guests also bought books for family and friends and the total raised for the campaign was £500. (this has since risen to £1,000)”

Copies of Dot’s Ditties are available from www.dotsditties.co.uk priced at £7.99.