THE Welwyn Hatfield Times and Macmillan Cancer Support have joint forces to launch a �100,000 fundraising appeal.

2011 is a very special year for Macmillan, as the charity is celebrating its 100th birthday.

The target of �100,000 seems a fitting way to mark the centenary.

The charity, which has its Hertfordshire county HQ in Welwyn, was started in 1911 by civil servant Douglas Macmillan, after he watched his father die of cancer.

His birthday gift of �10 was the first donation to the charity, which back then was known as the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer.

Throughout the last 100 years, Macmillan has seen many name changes but the core reasons for the charity’s existence still remain the same.

One of Douglas’ main priorities was to make sure people had enough coal to keep themselves warm during their illness.

A hundred years on this is still a priority for the charity, giving away many grants to pay for heating bills that people can’t afford to pay due to their illness.

Over the coming months the WHT will run a series of articles highlighting different aspects of the charity, and encouraging our readers to donate and smash through the �100,000 target.

WHT editor Terry Mitchinson said of the launch on Wednesday: “We are determined to do as much as we can throughout this year to raise money and awareness of this most important of charities.

“The WHT has always been at the centre of its community and charities like Macmillan are there to help those in our community who are in desperate need.

“I hope all our readers will back us in our support for this very worthy cause.”