A HALTON charity which provides support for younger breast cancer patients is urging newly diagnosed women not to suffer in silence.

Sarah's Stars, a which received an award at the Trinity Mirror Cheshire/ ScottishPower Your Champions Awards last month, wants to hear from younger women who have discovered they have the disease and do not know where to turn.

The group, headed by Sue Moon, Mary Gillingham and Carolyn Hanley, is urging people to join the group and share their experiences with others.

They are stressing that new members are welcome and are currently advertising their group through leaflets and posters in doctors' surgeries and hospitals.

Sarah's Stars was formed in November 2004. Carolyn, Sue and Mary were asked by medics at Warrington Hospital to set up a support group and, with all three having had breast cancer at an earlier age, they were in an ideal position to offer help.

They are all at least three years down the line from a breast cancer diagnosis.

The group has grown from about nine members to the current 23, who are all women under 40 diagnosed with the disease. The group meets on the last Tuesday of each month at the Post Graduate Centre at Warrington Hospital from 7pm-9pm.

The group is also involved in fundraising and tickets for a black tie charity ball to be staged in February are already sold out. There are more events planned for later next year.

Carolyn said: 'Our meetings enable young women from the Cheshire area to meet others who are in the same position and discuss their concerns.

'The meetings are very positive and do sometimes have guest speakers, who in the past have included consultant surgeon Mr Copeland and breast care nurses.

'The name of the group was chosen in memory of Sarah Jenner, who died at the age of 29 from breast cancer.

'Sarah's family have been very supportive towards the group and made a donation to help with the set-up costs and the running of the group.'

* Anyone who wants to find out more about joining the group can contact Sue Moon on 01925 711492, Mary Gillingham on 07766 648841 or Carolyn Hanley on 0151 424 2491.