Cancer specialist Jane Gibbard is preparing to take a leap of faith from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to raise millions of pounds for those suffering the disease.

Staff at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust are working together to raise money for the £2m Cancer Campaign - and have called on people across Oxfordshire to join forces with them.

Ms Gibbard, a senior specialist cancer pharmacist at the hospital, is taking part in next month's sponsored abseil off the women's centre to raise funds to help furnish the new centre with extra equipment.

She said: "I support the campaign and new centre both as a member of staff and on a personal level.

"My grandfather was treated in Oxford for myeloma and sadly died in 2002, and in 2005 my best friend's mother was treated for pancreatic cancer.

"The new centre is important as it gives patients the best possible care in one place, allowing them to become familiar with all the staff and areas they might be treated in and helping to reduce distress at an often difficult time. I hope many people will sign up to abseil as it is great fun - and is for a great cause.

"It means a lot more to me than just a place to work."

The 217-bed cancer and haematology centre, due to open soon, will bring together many cancer services under one roof.

It will house 10 dedicated operating theatres.

Graham Brogden, head of community fundraising at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Jane really is an inspiration to us all, going the extra mile - or 100ft down, in this case."

Encouraging others to join in, he said: "People can sign up to go it alone, or enter a team and abseil with family, friends or work colleagues to support the Cancer Campaign."

Registrations for this year's Cancer Campaign Abseil are now being taken.

Entry for the event on Sunday, April 27 costs £10 and participants are asked to raise a minimum of £100.

Hospital fundraisers are happy to help with advice on how to raise sponsorship.

Full training in how to abseil will be given on the day.

For more information call 01865 743444 or visit www.orhcharitablefunds.nhs.uk