IT WAS her dream to raise £1m before she died of cancer, and now members of the Wiltshire Breakthrough Breast Cancer group are asking for more help to reach the late Shirley Garman’s goal.

The mother-of-two, who was one of the founders of the group, passed away in 2009 after battling the disease, but the group has continued with her mission and so far raised £785,000.

But with another £215,000 to go until the target is reached, the group is urging people across the town to give their support.

Lynn Parfrey, Wiltshire lead for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Wiltshire, said: “We want to say a big thank you to all our supporters. We are looking for more people to get on board, too.

“We are trying to reach that goal for Shirley and the more money we raise, the closer we get.”

Shirley, of Gorse Hill, survived breast cancer twice, but was later told she had just days to live after the cancer spread to her brain.

She helped the group raise more than £700,000 before she died.

Lynn added: “A lot of people say ‘We are supporting you’, but this is what we need to raise awareness of.

“Anyone doing anything for Breakthrough Breast Cancer needs to know there is a group in Swindon and if, for whatever reason, they don’t donate the money through Wiltshire Breakthrough Breast Cancer, it won’t count towards Shirley’s total.”

Wiltshire Breakthrough Breast Cancer raises money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which goes towards research.

The group also aims to promote awareness and to support people affected by the disease.

“We want everyone to be aware of breast cancer and not to be afraid of it. It is not just women who get it,” added Lynn.

Last month was breast cancer awareness month and the group thanked everyone who helped add £3,100 to its total by attending a Pink Night, a fashion show, the Drove Road pamper sessions or by putting money in the collection buckets.

Lynn also gave particular thanks to Ellen and Bob Goodsall of Southbrook Extension who donate items for raffle throughout the year; Valerie Sanders of Highworth who supports the group’s events; and Diana Yeoell and Alison Fuller who raised £1076.75 by running the Swindon half-marathon. Meanwhile, Pam and John Strange, of Hook, and Maureen and Bernard Baker, of Royal Wootton Bassett, hold a Christmas fair each year to help raise money. This year’s fair will be on November 19 at the Hook Village Hall from noon.

In addition, tickets are on sale for Wiltshire Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s annual dinner dance, in memory of Shirley. It will be at the Blunsdon House Hotel from 7pm on January 7.

For information or tickets, email Lynn.wbg@googlemail. com, call 07530 948350 or visit www.breakthrough.org.uk/groups/Wiltshire.