OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Shirley Holmes, Jenny Skinner and Carol Dean, also known as the breast care team from Salisbury District Hospital, were overjoyed at being announced winners in the Health Workers category.

"The fact that we have won an award in the same month as Breast Cancer Awareness month is a lovely coincidence," said Shirley, who said she first felt overwhelmed and speechless.

"We just love our job," she said, speaking for the team.

Anyone who has undergone NHS breast cancer treatment in Salisbury will have come into contact with Shirley and/or Jenny, who have for many years helped women go through the trauma of tackling breast cancer in a spirit of calm, determination and positive thinking. The award is a fitting recognition of the team's dedication.

For the last 21 years the unit's secretary, Carol Dean, has helped organise the annual breast cancer lunch which was held at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton, yesterday.

This is held as a celebration of survival as well as offering support to others undergoing treatment, but the biggest change over the years is the number of women attending.

"There were only about a dozen ladies attending the first lunch. Now it has grown so much we have 175 ladies this year," said Shirley.

Shirley, Jenny and Carol planned to take the engraved trophy with them to the lunch to share with the attendees.