Hamilton Rotary Club Members were urged yesterday to consider donating funds towards the Cancer Resource Centre of the Bermuda TB Cancer & Health Association.

At the club's weekly lunchtime meeting, Judy Simons, president of the Association and Myra Brayham, vice president, outlined the Association's work and revealed that its capital campaign had raised just under $3 million since it was launched a year ago.

But the overall target had been revised to $4.9 million from $4.6 million. The association expects the Cancer Resource Centre to be completed by the end of next summer.

It will provide public access to a "state of the art interactive Cancer Resource Library, qualified nurses to provide health related information, ultrasound technology, expanded educational programmes and meeting facilities," explained Ms Simons.

The Association currently provides services to more than 17,000 residents a year and works with other organisations such as the Bermuda Diabetes Association and breast cancer support groups. It provides diabetic and ostomy supplies at cost and does over 700 mammographies a month.

Last year its staff visited 36 schools as part of its anti smoking campaign and another 22 were visited to raise awareness about skin cancer.

The association's new premises, which will house the Cancer Resource Centre, were purchased last year.

"We are not supported by Government," said Ms Simons. "We are a self sufficient unit and we feel we should not have to go to Government for funding."