With just a few days to go until CHBN Radio (the new name for Truro Hospital Radio) hits the airwaves of Truro on 107.5FM, the charity's chairman Mark Sanders opens his heart to the West Briton to reveal the sadness behind the station's big launch.

On the evening of 23rd June this year, just one week after the station had been officially granted its licence to undertake a trial three week broadcast on the FM band, the team lost their much-loved and respected station manager, Elizabeth Sanders, Mark's mum.

Elizabeth had just been discussing with her husband Geoff, Mark's dad, what they were going to do on her day off the next day when, without warning, she suffered a fatal heart attack. She was 55.

Mark, of Penryn, told the West Briton: 'We are still very much coming to terms with losing Mum. It was a total shock for me and my dad - she meant everything to both of us.'

'But it has also been a great loss to Truro Hospital Radio. In the nine years she was station manager she turned the charity's fortunes round, single-handedly securing grants and other funding as well as organising initiatives such as building a studio with access for the disabled.'

'I think it's safe to say that without Mum, it is likely there wouldn't be a Truro Hospital Radio today,' he added.

Indeed it had been Elizabeth's idea to apply for the three week trial FM broadcast, which will extend to a 5km radius around the station's studio in the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and she had worked hard to ensure the station received the appropriate licence from Ofcom. When confirmation of the frequency - 107.5FM - came through on 15th June, it had been something of a celebration in the Sanders household.

'She was so excited about it,' said Mark, 'and up until that awful day when we lost her, she was spending most of her spare time securing advertising and competition prizes, as well as lining up people to come on air and be interviewed.'

Initially Mark and his dad Geoff, an executive committee member of the charity, found it hard to continue their work in the run up to the broadcast.

Mark says: 'For weeks we didn't even contemplate going back into the studio and we have been very lucky to have station members Steve Foster and Tim Iremonger overseeing the day to day running of the studio in our absence. But eventually Dad and I realised we could do only so much preparation for the broadcast from home and so together we summoned the strength to go in for a committee meeting.'

'In some ways it was a relief to finally get back into the studio but in other ways it was heartbreaking. Everywhere we looked there was a reminder of Mum - little notes she had posted on the noticeboard, even hearing the music being played. It didn't matter what song it was - Matt Monro or Madness - Mum would always be singing along to it.'

With no Elizabeth, there has been much more work for members to prepare for the broadcast.

'It is testament to just how much Mum did for the charity at how much harder we have all had to work,' says Mark, 'but everyone has been pulling together to do their bit.'

'We are aiming for a lively mix of music and chat, with an emphasis on health, wellbeing and lifestyle and hope to interview a wide range of people in the community, as well as featuring music from local artists on our playlist.'

Anyone wishing to take part in the broadcast as a guest or have their music featured on air are invited to call 0560 277 3884 for further information.

The three week trial broadcast starts this Monday (17th) on 107.5FM at 8am with the weekday breakfast show with husband and wife team Steph and Clive Blake, the station's very own Richard and Judy.

DJ Paul Rees takes over at 10am, then Dave Maybank is on from midday until 2pm. At 4pm Steve Foster presents a drive time show and at 6pm there is a children's hour for younger listeners.

This is very much the line up during the week but some days and at weekends the schedule changes. Listeners can check the station website www.chbnradio.org for up-to-the-minute details.

'Hopefully Mum will be listening in from above and will feel proud of all that she has achieved,' says Mark. 'We wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for her so, please, listen in.'

Elizabeth was also well known for the work she did for the Royal British Legion, especially for their annual Poppy Appeal.