A cancer sufferer is hoping for a full house at a bingo charity night. Sue Yusuf, a mum-of-two, will be one of six volunteers taking part in a special event at the Mecca Bingo club in South Shields in order to raise money for St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow, Marie Curie, and the chemotherapy unit at South Tyneside District Hospital.

The volunteers will take the podium at the Mecca Bingo and will call out 15 numbers each. While the winners are clearly the charities, one of the contestants will be crowned the winner by the amount of money they raise. Club players will put their donations in each of the contestants individual collection pots.

Sue, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, is taking help from the National Bingo Caller of the Year, Blake Robson. Blake, 45, will be on the stage giving contestants some tips from his own experience of calling bingo numbers at the club over the last 20 years.

Sue, 40, added: “It promises to be a wonderful, fun-filled event.

“I wanted to put together something a little different to raise money, and I mentioned it to Blake. He took it up straight away because he is so competitive.

“He [Blake] will be there to offer help, although I’m sure he’d like to be taking part himself if he could.”

She added: “I don’t think I’ll win it, but I guess I stand as much chance as the others taking part.

“I play here often, and have seen how Blake does it. I just want to raise as much money as possible.”

Sue, who is a customer manager at the Royal Sun Alliance Insurance in Sunderland, was diagnosed with cancer in January last year and has had three operations as wells courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy which she hopes will have helped her beat the cancer.

The charity event will be held between tomorrow evening between 7:30pm and 8pm and will be followed by the Halloween Monsters Ball.

Blake commented: “I like being the bingo champ, but I’m sure Sue will do very well.

“It takes about four minutes to read a card, and everyone taking part should have lots of fun.

“Four people have so far volunteered to take part. I am confident another two will come forward.”