A SINGER and former cancer patient has raised £8,500 to buy equipment for a regional cancer charity.

Trish Greensmith, known to many by her stage name Chyrelle Addams, (Correct) donated money collected during performances to the Charlie Bear for Cancer Care charitable fund.

It will use the money to buy a portable blood pressure machine to help the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, to better treat cancer patients.

Mrs Greensmith, from Willington, County Durham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2007 and set up the Chyrelle Addams Breast Cancer Appeal Trust 18 months ago, after her recovery.

Her campaign is supported by Durham County Council chairman Coun Brian Myers.

She said: "I feel very strongly that if I don’t do something positive to help other cancer patients, then I’ve had cancer for nothing.

"I’ve chosen to buy individual hospitals pieces of equipment they need, rather than donate a sum of money, because I see every single penny donated going directly to providing hospitals with what they need and raising standards of care for cancer patients."

Launched more than 30 years ago, the Charlie Bear fund originally aimed to raise £1m to buy the region’s first whole body scanner.

The charity was adopted by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 1993 and has helped hundreds of patients battling cancer.

Angie Taylor, Charlie Bear co-ordinator, said: "It is rare that we are contacted by anyone asking us if there’s anything specific we need to help us treat our patients. "When Trish called and offered to buy us a portable blood pressure machine, we were overjoyed.

"We’re very grateful to her and for the extra boost to our patients’ care that this machine will provide."