A MAJOR fundraising appeal launched by Dorset County Hospital Charity has achieved almost 30 per cent of its target in just three months thanks to a swarm of generous donations.

The charity’s Cancer Appeal is seeking to raise £1.75 million to support the provision of radiotherapy services at DCH.

To date more than 26 per cent of the target amount has been raised for the Echo-backed appeal.

The money will provide a bespoke outpatients department on top of the radiotherapy building with rooms for counselling and consultancy. It will also fund major improvements to the existing chemotherapy unit.

Head of fundraising, Andrew House said: “We’ve had donations and pledges of more than £50,000 in the past few weeks and this takes our appeal total up to £460,000. We are also getting a lot of support from local businesses, community groups and from members of the public who have personally experienced the affects of cancer. We are working on a number of projects with local companies which should raise a lot of money over the next year.”

The Cancer Appeal is supporting a major project with Poole Hospital to bring radiotherapy services to Dorchester for the first time. Currently cancer patients from north, west and south Dorset face extensive travel times to Poole Hospital with associated costs and additional stress.

Patricia Cousins of Weymouth, who has received radiotherapy treatment in Poole, said: “I had six weeks of treatment in Poole.Although the staff were fantastic it was a very stressful experience and required the help of many friends. By the end of my treatment I was very weak and the travel was a major problem for me and caused a lot of stress.

“Having radiotherapy services at Dorset County Hospital will make life easier for the patients but also for the nurses who are so kind and friendly.”

The cancer project also means a lot to the staff at DCH.

Lead cancer nurse, Abi Orchard said: “This project is a golden opportunity. The new facilities will also improve chemotherapy facilities providing private and soundproofed areas for patient consultations and space for relatives or friends to sit with chemotherapy patients during treatment.”

Now that planning permission has been received for the new radiotherapy bunkers, things are beginning to change on the hospital site. In September the prefabricated building which currently occupies the site will be taken down and the contents moved to another part of the hospital, then work on the radiotherapy bunkers can start.

To support the Cancer Appeal or find out more contact Rachel on 01305 253215, visit dchft.nhs.uk/charity, or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk