A DEDICATED unit for young cancer patients in East Yorkshire is set to benefit from thousands of pounds raised from a half-marathon.

The £215,000 Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham means patients aged 18 to 24 no longer have to travel to Leeds for treatment.

Although it officially opened last month, £70,000 still needs to be raised.

Now, organisers of the Humber Bridge Half Marathon and Family Fun Run have confirmed the event on June 24 will raise money for the unit.

Stewart Heron, of the Rotary Club of Hull, which co-organises the event, said: "The Teenage Cancer Trust believes teenagers shouldn't stop being teenagers because they have cancer.

"The units they build are as close as possible to a young person's normal life, helping them cope with gruelling treatment and long stays in hospital.

"It is expected more than 2,000 runners will register for the 2012 Humber Bridge Half Marathon and more than 700 for the Family Fun Run.

"It's rewarding to support a unit that helps young people struck down so early in life."

St John Ambulance will also benefit from the events, which raised more than £31,000 for charities including Mencap last year.

Various individuals and groups have raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Queen's Centre For Oncology And Haematology over the past decade.

David and Sheila Brazier, of North Ferriby, helped kick-start fundraising for the charity in 2002 when they held a concert in their garden.

Since then, their hopes for a local unit have become a reality and they are continuing to organise events.

Sheila, 62, said: "The unit is fabulous and unique. We want it to be a huge success and it is absolutely essential people continue to raise money."

Abigail Batchelor, regional fundraiser at the Teenage Cancer Trust, said the unit is making a difference to patients.

She said: "Patients moved into the unit at the end of last year and they are loving it.

"They spend a lot of time together in the social space, but they also appreciate the private time they can have in their beds.

"It's thanks to the generous support of everyone in Hull that the Teenage Cancer Trust has been able to provide this brilliant facility for young cancer patients in the region."

Entry for the Humber Bridge Half Marathon costs £22 for those who are not affiliated to a UK Athletics Club and £20 for those who are.

To enter, visit www.humber- half.org.uk or call 07432 046891.