THE Great Western Hospital’s radiotherapy appeal has been given a £25,000 nudge closer to its £2.9m target.

The contribution to the Brighter Futures campaign is one of several made by the Malmesbury League of Friends, which provides funds for medical equipment to surgeries, hospitals and patients in the area.

Another £20,000-worth of donations handed over so far this year include dermatoscopes for two local surgeries, cash for Youth Action Wiltshire to provide first aid training for young people and payment of the town’s community bus insurance premium.

Help towards the cost of a specially adapted minibus for a family with two severely disabled children was also given.

Chairman Robin Clark said: “These latest requests are typical of those we receive for support.

“Although some of them involve quite modest sums, each one will nevertheless make a major difference to the lives of those who will benefit.”

Brighter Futures patron, comedian Rory Bremner, last week told the Advertiser he hoped it would reach the halfway mark by Christmas.

It has already topped £500,000 less than a year after it was launched.

Campaigners want to build a radiotherapy unit at the hospital to save cancer patients the long and often uncomfortable journey to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford – the nearest place where the treatment is offered.

They hope the Superhero run at Lydiard Park on May 8 will give the appeal another boost.

Anyone wanting to take part in the run can enter online at entrycentral.com/superhero or visit the appeal website at brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk for more information. Entry fees are £15 for adults, £10 for children and runners can choose between the 10k and 5k routes.