CANCER research charity volunteer Ruth Loft met the Prince of Wales for the third time.

Ruth, of Ryburn Avenue, Blackburn, currently a patient at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, was invited to a reception at St James's Palace, London, given by Prince Charles, who is Patron of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Ruth and her husband Laurence joined 100 volunteers from Breakthrough groups throughout the country for the party where the prince spent two hours mingling with his guests.

Delyth Morgan, Breakthrough's chief executive, introduced Ruth to Prince Charles, who asked her if she had had breast cancer.

Ruth said she had had the disease nearly 10 years ago and would be going into the Christie Hospital the following week for more surgery, to which the Prince replied: "You'll be fine." Paying tribute to the work of the volunteers, he said there are now 200,000 women in the UK who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. He hoped that through research there would have a future free from the fear of the disease.

Ruth has raised more than £50,000 for the charity since she was diagnosed in 1991.

From her hospital bed at The Christie, Ruth said: "It was a thrill to be invited to St James's Palace and to meet Prince Charles again. The memory of it has helped lift my spirits now that I need further surgery following a recurrence.

"The staff here are magnificent and the other patients are an inspiration in their courage."

Ruth is appealing for more funds for both research and care and asking people to contact Delyth Morgan at Breakthrough on 020 74555111 or The Appeals Office at The Christie Hospital, 0161 446 3000.