A NAILSEA woman who has battled a brain tumour and come out fighting, is raising money for the Bristol Oncology Centre where she was treated. Helen Hamblin

A NAILSEA woman who has battled a brain tumour and come out fighting, is raising money for the Bristol Oncology Centre where she was treated.Helen Hamblin, aged 50, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2004 and went through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant to fight off the disease. Helen, who is now in remission, has made it her mission to help other people suffering from cancer.Many patients have to spend a great deal of their time in the oncology centre while having treatment and Helen, of Ash Hayes Drive, wants to make the facility as homely as possible for them.She said: "I was in there in a room on my own for a month after my stem cell transplant and sometimes the aerials on the TVs were missing so it was difficult to watch."It doesn't seem important, but when you're there on your own it's just a bit of comfort. "The staff there were brilliant. They were very friendly and caring."I want to raise the money to put something back into the oncology centre to help other patients and to say thank you to the people who helped me."My treatment went on for about 15 months. They threw everything at me. It's still a bit scary now as I have to have three monthly check-ups. It's always in the back of my mind."Helen and her husband John, aged 52, have three children, Kate aged 28, Libby, aged 25, and 17-year-old Peter. Helen said her diagnosis also had a huge impact on her family. She said: "My family has suffered a lot."I just tried to carry on as normal, but you do take it out on the ones who are nearest and dearest to you."I couldn't have managed without my family, my husband and my three children. I'm very proud of all of them."I just hope people will come along to the event and support it because you never know if it's going to affect you."Helen has already raised more than £2,000 for the centre, which paid for the bathroom to be refurbished.Her latest bash, Music and Magic, will be held at the Scotch Horn Centre, in Brockway, on December 1. Clause 40 will be performing on the night as well as Mark Johnson who will be singing rat pack classics and illusionist Daniel Dean who will be stunning audiences with his tricks.Tickets, priced £5, are available from Beauty@22, Ring of Bells, Cafe 119 and Gilly's Cafe or by ringing Helen on 07891 930571 or AD on 07792 683408.