A PUG is holding his own festival to raise money for the Cancer Centre Campaign.

Rupert, the pug, belongs to drama therapist Katie Still who is helping to organise Rupert Fest.

The event is being held at Abberton Cricket Club with family entertainment through the day followed by live music in the evening.

Katie said activities would include dancing, African drumming workshops, craft stalls and a barbecue.

There will also be a chance to hug a pug – namely Rupert – in return for donations.

Entry is free with money being raised through a raffle and stalls.

Katie has helped to organise the event along with her partner Martin Jackson, a lecturer at Colchester Institute, friend Natalia Bate and Sara and Simon Swinn.

Katie, 35, from Colchester, said: “We haveagood radiotherapy centre and we want to try to raise the money to make itacomplete cancer centre.

“We know people being treated at Colchester General Hospital who had had direct experience of cancer treatment and know of the love, support and compassion at the chemotherapy unit.

“When someone gets a diagnosis, there is so much to deal with.

“There is so much medical and clinical information but it would be great to have a holistic approach with all the support on one site.

“It is a progressive attitude, it is saying we recognise all these areas are important to get someone through the day.”

Katie has made Rupert the face of the festival, which is being held on September 27, and the puppy even has his own justgiving and Facebook pages.

A crowdfunding page has also been set up to raise money towards the costs of a marquee for the event.

The Cancer Centre Campaign is aiming to raise £4.5million to create a new cancer centre at Colchester General Hospital.

Currently chemotherapy is administered on the other side of the hospital to radiotherapy.

If the money is raised, both chemotherapy and haematology would be taken to a new centre which would be built on top of the radiotherapy centre.

The centre would also have areas for complementary therapists and voluntary groups. To support Rupert go to justgiving.com/rupert-thecharity-pug or facebook.com /rupertthecharitypug