JANUARY 5, 1999, is a day I will never forget. It was the day that I was diagnosed with T-cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, cancer of the lymph glands. I was 14 years old. Until then I had always been fit and well and taken good health for granted.

My world was turned upside down, and there followed months of hospital treatment. At times I felt I would never be well again, despite the fact that all those caring for me did so with kindness.

As I began to feel stronger I thought about the treatment that I had and was told that scientists from The Cancer Research Campaign discovered them. I also found out that all the money that pays for the work is given by volunteers -- like those in my school who did a bog-eyed jog when they found out I was ill.

December is going to be The Cancer Research Campaign's Children's Cancer Awareness Month when the charity will raise even more money to beat illnesses like mine.

You can help by donating the money from your carol concert, or by getting everyone in your class or office to sign one of The Cancer Research Campaign's communal Christmas cards and donating the money you would have spent on cards for your classmates or colleagues.

Please will you help raise money for children's cancer this Christmas? To get hold of a communal Christmas card, or for other fund-raising ideas, please contact The Cancer Research Campaign on 0161 772 5555, or e-mail the regional office manager Mike Davis at mdavis@crc.org.uk

Because of The Cancer Research Campaign I can wish you all a Merry Christmas and look forward to the future.

Tom Bidwell