THE pioneering intra-operative radiotherapy treatment newly available at Great Western Hospital would not be possible without public donations.

Every person who contributed to the fund, no matter how much or how little they were able to give, has truly made a difference in countless lives.

A breast cancer diagnosis is one of the most devastating things a woman can endure, and its shockwaves extend to all of those they love and are loved by.

Patients often also face the prospect of radiotherapy, which can be an exhausting business.

Until now, breast cancer patients in Swindon needing radiotherapy have faced an additional challenge – that of having to travel for weeks to Bath or Oxford.

The new treatment at Great Western Hospital, the only service of its kind in the region, means radiotherapy can be administered in the operating theatre.

This spares them the daunting prospect of making repeated gruelling journeys at a time when they need to conserve every ounce of physical energy and mental strength.

Of course, in an ideal world there would be no need for public appeals to raise money for such projects, because the latest, finest treatment would be available to every patient at their local hospital.

However, at times such as these, when spare funds are tiny or non-existent, there is no point in reflecting on such matters.

The most important thing is not to dream of what might be but to do what has to be done.

We salute everybody who took that ethos to heart when the appeal was announced.