SWINDON is one step closer to getting a dedicated radiotherapy unit after the fundraising campaign reached £100,000.

Since May, Brighter Futures, the the charitable arm of the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, officially launched its appeal to raise £2.9 million for the unit which is set to transform the lives of hundreds of cancer patients each year.

Currently, patients must make a gruelling 70-mile round trip to Oxford's Churchill Hospital to receive courses of radiotherapy treatment, often daily, and lasting for up to seven weeks.

But since the launch of the appeal, donors from across the town and county have roared into action to raise donations, including £25,000 from the Malmesbury League of Friends and money from a series of fundraising Wimbledon-themed tea parties undertaken by local businesses and schools.

Jennifer Green, Brighter Futures’ head of fundraising, said: “We have had a fantastic response in the weeks since we publicly launched our Radiotherapy Appeal and I would like to thank every single person who has fundraised or donated – your efforts really are for an excellent cause.

“It is brilliant that we have now raised more than £100,000, but we still have a long way to go before we get to our target.

“I look forward to working more with the local community on their innovative and exciting fundraising ideas to help bring the vision for radiotherapy treatment to Swindon a reality.”

Treatment at the unit will be provided by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (OUH), which formally approved the pans to run the satellite centre on July 8.

Provided the Trust Development Authority and NHS England rubber stamp the proposal the treatment could be available by the end of 2017.

Brighter Futures has organised several upcoming fundraising events, including Ride for Radiotherapy, where people can gather sponsorship to cycle in September 30, 70 or 100-mile routes.

They are also encouraging people to take a selfie and upload to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag, #TheTimeIsNow, to show their support for the appeal.

To donate to the appeal text SWIN29 followed by your donation of £5 or £10 to 70070, donate online at www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk, http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/greatwestern/radiotherapy or http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/gwh/radiotherapy.

To find out more about fundraising and how you can get involved call 01793 605631.