Man's dying wish for skin mole-map machine comes true

Mike Hull started the campaign for the mole-mapping device to help others with melanoma

A skin cancer victim's dying wish to have a mole-checking machine installed in a hospital has come true.

Before his death at the age of 67 in March 2022, Mike Hull started fundraising for the device to be fitted, in the hope of helping others with melanoma.

More than £58,000 has since been raised and a machine has now been set up at Solihull Hospital.

His widow Carol says she is "over the moon".

The machine helps to track any changes in the shape and outlines of moles on a patient's skin over time

The machine uses advanced, high-resolution digital technology to create a map of the body from head to toe, which enables the assessment of all the moles a patient has, to track any changes over time.

Mr Hull, a well-known painter and decorator in the area, was diagnosed with melanoma - the most serious type of skin cancer - in 2013.

In the months before he died, with the help of his wife, family and friends, he sold cakes, made bracelets and helped to do bacon and sausage rolls on a Saturday morning at Droitwich Spa Football Club, to raise money.

'Droitwich got behind Mike'

Mr Hull died just before his £50,000 target, but campaigners continued his efforts and managed to raise a further £8,000.

The mole-mapping machine, funded by the proceeds, was unveiled on Monday.

Mrs Hull told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "I never thought we would ever get it up and running so seeing it in action means much to me because it's my promise fulfilled to Mike, I'm over the moon, I just wish he had been here to see us hit the target.

"It's down to most of Droitwich, they all got behind him, they all loved him and he would do anything for anybody so they were repaying him, it's just amazing.

Mike's widow Carol was at the unveiling of the machine at Solihull Hospital

"To see his name on the machine is an amazing achievement for him - he's not here to see it but people will know he was the one behind it all.

"It's going to save lives, Mike's legacy, it's what he wanted and we've finally done it."

Cancer Research UK has called on the government to create a national body made up of ministers, charities and scientists, to target melanoma.

The charity wants to see increased investment in prevention, early diagnosis and new treatments.

Cancers are being found more often and at an earlier stage, the government said.