A FORMER cancer patient is giving something back to the unit that cared for him by selling a children’s Christmas book.

Ken Gibson, aged 72, who is part of Standish Art Group, created the picture book, entitled The Christmas in Oncology, whilst undergoing treatment at Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust’s Oncology Unit.

He has now decided to release it for sale in the Cancer Care Unit at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.

Mr Gibson was teasing Chemotherapy Unit Manager Leonora Anson during his regular visits for chemotherapy, about being a famous author.

Ken wanted to prove that he had an eye for children’s novels, so he brought in a copy of some of his illustrations for the nurses to see.

Ken said “Leo was quite taken by my ideas and asked if I could create a version for the Oncology Unit, so I happily obliged.

“I worked on the book during my chemotherapy treatment, and it worked just like therapy for me.”

One of the side effects of the chemotherapy he received can be peripheral neuropathy, which means a numbness in the tips of the fingers.

Illustrating this book helped with this condition and kept Ken’s focus on recovering from his treatment.

The story follows the characters through a Christmas in Oncology, where all of the characters are represented by animals with child-friendly names such as Leo Lion and Ken Croc.

The books are now on sale at the Cancer Care Unit priced at £4.99 with all of the proceeds going towards the hospital's Three Wishes’ Cancer Care Appeal.