A SWINDON crochet and knitting group has donated £1,200 to the radiotherapy appeal.

Members of Swindon U3A earlier this month held their annual Christmas lunch at their base in Nythe Community Centre.

They used the event as an opportunity to present cash and hand-knitted merchandise to representatives from Brighter Futures.

Group leader Barbara Voice, 79, from Covingham, said: “Getting this radiotherapy unit is very important to all of us. There are so many people affected by cancer and they have to do all this travelling to and from Oxford, which must be awful when you’re not feeling well.

“We want to do what we can to get this unit up and running.”

The crochet and knitting group, which comprises between 30 and 40 members of Swindon U3A, meet in Nythe on a fortnightly basis and produce a whole variety of items for donation to the hospital, or to sell to friends and relatives with the proceeds going straight to Brighter Futures.

In addition, Trisha Hanlon, representing the hospital’s Jupiter Ward, accepted 37 twiddle muffs for use by some of the patients who are treated for a variety of conditions, including dementia.

Representing the Special Care Baby Unit, Natalie Stamp accepted an extensive collection of hand-crafted teddy bears, cardigans, mittens, bonnets and blankets.

“We are thrilled to be able to help people by doing something we really enjoy,” said Barbara, who has been with the group for the past five years.

The blankets were on top of the 900 adult blankets which have been delivered by the group in recent months for distribution by AGE UK.

Barbara added: “U3A members always have a lot of fun together, and this was a particularly lively session. But the group always works towards helping the wider community.”

If anybody has any spare wool or other materials that would be good for knitting, Barbara has asked that they be delivered to the U3A offices in Gorse Hill Community Centre, or people can call her directly on 07746625305.

So far £1,307,568 has been raised for Brighter Futures. The team is very grateful for every single donation and wish to thank everyone for their support. To donate you can send cut out and send in the attached form or log on to www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.