CANCER patients and their carers are being urged to come forward and help improve health services in the region.

They are needed at what is thought to be the largest cancer event to be held in the region tomorrow.

The aim is to bring together patients, carers and health professionals to look at ways of improving cancer services.

The North-East has some of the highest mortality rates from cancer in the UK.

In the North Tees area, the number of women who die from lung cancer is more than double the national average for England.

Mary Sayers, of the Teesside, South Durham and North Yorkshire Patient and Carer Group, appealed to individuals and groups around the region to ensure they are represented.

"One of the aims of the event is to try to get wider representation on our group," she said. We need people with experience of different types of cancer so that we can really make an impact on improving cancer services."

The aim is to work with the Cancer Care Alliance to end what she described as a "postcode lottery".

The event will also give patients, carers and profesionals access to information and the opportunity to network.

The main speaker at the event will be Sir Kenneth Calman, vice-chancellor of Dur-ham University.

As government chief medical officer, Sir Kenneth co- wrote the report, which provided a blueprint for modern cancer services.

To attend the event, from 3.30pm to 8pm, at the Oakwood Centre, in Thornaby, contact Tracy Stoker on (01642) 854117 or turn up.