A chance to sing with local X Factor hero Simon Lynch is up for grabs for the local business which donates the largest sum to the Manx Cancer Support Group this Christmas.

Simon, who is recording the Elbow song ‘A Day Like This’ as part of a fundraising CD for the charity behind the new Breast Care Unit at Noble’s Hospital, wants to open this iconic anthem up to performers from all over the Island, and will sing one of the verses with representatives of the company who makes the largest donation.

In just two years The Manx Breast Cancer Support Group has raised over ?1.6million to design and build the new Breast Cancer and Screening clinic at Noble’s Hospital, which is to open in January 2016. And now the race is on to fund some of the more specialist equipment, and the Charity is broadening out to provide a very specific machine which will benefit a wider range of cancer patients.

“An Inter-Operative Radiotherapy machine is top of our wish-list to boost treatment options for patients being treated for any cancer on the Island, as it provides a ‘one-hit’ dose of radiotherapy during tumour removal,” says Carole Male of the Charity. “It isn’t suitable for all cancers, but for many it will have the added benefit of saving the upset and trauma of travelling off-Island for weeks of daily radiotherapy, which usually involves a stay in a hotel room away from family and friends, a lonely and often frightening experience.”

But it’s an expensive piece of equipment, so the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, the only local charity fund-raising solely for the benefit of cancer patients in the Isle of Man, hopes that everyone who knows anyone with any type of cancer will support them. And just as the Inter-Operative Radiotherapy machine provides one-off radiotherapy, for one generous company this is a one-off opportunity to sing with our home grown X Factor star, Simon Lynch.

“Closing date for entries is Tuesday 24 November,” says Carole, “so there’s not much time to get your bid in. Any company which would like to be involved should make a donation via our website www.manxbreastcancersupportgroup.com and then email corporates@manxbreastcancersupportgroup.com, with a note of the amount donated and a contact name and phone number. We will contact the winning company on 25 November to arrange the recording. And thank you.”

Photo - Simon Lynch - Courtesy of Dave Armstrong, DAM Productions.