A WHOPPING £10,000 has been donated by the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community towards a campaign to bring a radiotherapy centre to Swindon.

The cheque was presented to Jennifer Green, head of fundraising at charity Brighter Futures based at Great Western Hospital, on Friday by the Friends’ chairman Janet Louth, trustees Pat Harper and Joan Davies and the group's administrator Trudi Granger.

Brighter Futures have embarked on a £2.9m appeal to bring cancer care closer to those living in Wiltshire and the money raised will equip a new radiotherapy centre, to be built in Swindon, providing a service to tens of thousands of people in the area.

Currently, Marlborough residents who have cancer have to travel to Oxford to receive treatment, so the Friends donation has given a boost to the appeal which launched in May and has so far raised more than £100,000.

Ms Green said: “We need everyone to get on board, whether that’s individuals who want to donate, groups of people who want to fundraise with us or local businesses looking for a fantastic charity to support.

“Many local people have been affected by cancer themselves or have friends and family who have experienced cancer and so know the difference bringing radiotherapy closer to home will make.

“The support for our breast cancer treatment appeal last year was overwhelming. I know that the people of Wiltshire will do all they can to support our new appeal and rise to this much greater challenge in terms of the amount we need to raise.

“Over the next two years there will be lots of ways to get involved including different events. I am sure participants will also come up with wild and wacky ways of generating money for this worthy appeal.”

To donate go to: brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk