Sir Robin Wales has met with a group of students who have been raising awareness about lung cancer.

He joined the Year 12 students for a breakfast to celebrate the work they have been doing among their fellow students and families about the disease.

The students, from St Angela’s and St Bonaventure’s Sixth Form, have been spreading the word about the condition and the dangers of smoking. They have been delivering lessons to raise awareness amongst their fellow sixth formers.

They are known as Community Links’ Lifesavers and have been trained in lung cancer awareness by staff from the local public health team and from Community Links.

Lung cancer is one cancer where we can identify a cause, we know that most people who die from lung cancer have smoked.

Frances Clarke, from Community Links, has been working with the students. She said “In Newham people die unnecessarily because they don’t detect the signs and symptoms early enough. The students are sharing this essential information with other students and with their families and friends and in this way we hope to save lives.”

She urged people to familiarise themselves with the symptoms which include:

*A Persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks

*Shortness of breath

*Hoarse voice

*Coughing up phlegm with blood

*Unexplained weight loss