A MACMILLAN fundraising manager from Conwy is celebrating her 20th anniversary of working for the charity that supports people living with cancer.

Eleri Brady, who lives outside Old Colwyn, began working for Macmillan in October 2002, when she was employed as fundraising assistant.

It was Eleri’s cancer experience within her own family that spurred her to work for the charity that has been helping people with cancer since 1911.

Eleri said: “My dad was diagnosed with cancer in May 2002. Around that time, we saw an advert for a local Macmillan coffee morning.

“We decided that we should go to this as we really wanted to meet and speak with other people who were on the same cancer journey as us.

“It was there that I also started to find out about the type of support that Macmillan offered.

“When a job opportunity with Macmillan came up a few months later, I applied, I got an interview, and I was over the moon when I was offered the job.

“In the past 20 years, I have been lucky to be invited to support many, many Macmillan coffee mornings and fetes.

“I really don’t have a favourite as they have all been unique in their own way.”

Eleri does recall one stand-out fundraising activity, and that was when she, with volunteers, organised an unusual event to raise money for Macmillan, while raising awareness of breast cancer

She said: ”We had asked women to donate £1 and a bra to our fundraiser. Our plan was to have bras stretching across the Menai Bridge. We received hundreds of bras which we securely tied together.

“We had so many that we managed to make a line across the bridge, which is 176 metres long, and back again! It was quite some sight!

“I am really proud in the expansion of Macmillan information services in our hospitals, at the end of the phone, and online.

“When my dad received his cancer diagnosis it was on a Friday afternoon coming up to 5pm and there was nobody that my family could talk with about it. I clearly remember how it felt to be alone.

“Now, the Macmillan support line is open every single day from 8am to 8pm, and we also have an online Macmillan community.

“Because of how we felt as a family going through a cancer journey, if me banging on my drum about the support that Macmillan offers helps just one person – I will have made a difference.

“Hopefully, though, I’ve helped a fair few more than that over the years.”

If you’re looking to host a fundraising event for Macmillan and would like to get in touch with Eleri, she can be contacted at ebrady@macmillan.org.uk.

To find out how you can get involved with Macmillan or access its cancer information and support please visit: www.macmillan.org.uk.

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Richard Pugh, Macmillan head of partnerships in Wales, said: “Very many congratulations Eleri on 20 years with Macmillan Cancer Support.

“We’re very lucky to have had Eleri working with us, and we know that her professionalism and enthusiasm has helped very many Macmillan volunteers over this time.

“Eleri came to work for Macmillan because she wanted to make a difference to the lives of people living with cancer and their families.

“She knows how it feels to be left adrift and unsupported after receiving the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis.

“It is this poor experience, and seeing the positive impact that accessible cancer information and support can have, which drives her to help our volunteers to raise as much they can to support these services.”

The Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. It is open every day from 8am to 8pm.

Calls are free on all consumer landlines and free on all mobile networks.