Individuals and organisations from all over south Buckinghamshire have pulled out all the stops to raise money for Wycombe Hospital's cancer unit appeal. And next month all their efforts will be rewarded when the new centre opens. Here, political editor MARGARET SMITH, looks at the marathon fundraising effort

ON February 11 the first patient will walk through the doors of Wycombe Hospital's new cancer unit 11 months after Scannappeal launched its campaign to raise £425,000.

Raising the money, which is not yet all in, was a big job with a short time scale for Scannappeal's fundraiser Amanda Martin, who was already involved with bringing in £300,000 for a scanning centre for women.

But people and organisations from all over south Buckinghamshire pulled out all the stops to raise the £425,000, which is half the total cost of the centre. The other half of the cost will be met by the hospital.

Many of their fundraising efforts have featured in our pages, but one thing is for sure, without them the centre would not be opening next month.

The first pledge was £50,000 from the League of Friends of Wycombe Hospital, followed by the first fundraising event, a 70s disco at St Paul's School in Wooburn Green, which raised £2,100.

PK Graphics of High Wycombe produced all the appeal literature at a reduced rate while another business, the White Hart in Chalfont St Peter, handed over £500 from a quiz night and became the first company to give money.

The Budget in May was followed by a slow down in donations, but they soon picked up, possibly sparked by the example of Free Press editor Steve Cohen who stood on his head while donating the unexpected £100 he received for judging New Zealand's community newspaper award.

A tea dance held by the LK School of Dancing in Hazlemere raised £355.

Then, Scannappeal launched its Friends Scheme, whereby donors could sponsor equipment or rooms in the unit, giving a minimum of £500 and becoming bronze, silver, gold and platinum Friends. All Friends will be listed on a Supporters Wall in the entrance area to the unit.

In June, Cryers Hill Methodist Church held a Flower Festival, raising £1,500. The Jolly Bodger pub raised more than £500 at events over Jubilee Weekend.

Lots of other pubs and organisations chose the jubilee and the World Cup matches as fundraising excuses. People in Manor Road, Penn, raised £5,000 from a jubilee garden party and an auction of promises one of which was a vasectomy.

Building work started when MP Paul Goodman (Con, High Wycombe) knocked down a wall and not to be outdone politically, musicians chose Wycombe Liberal Club for a jam session raising £800.

Jean Farrell, whose husband died of cancer, organised fundraising through the British Legion in Marlow raising £2,500.

In August, Claire and Derek Ransom marked the tragic death of their daughter Amy a year previously in a holiday accident by giving £5,000 to fund a chemotherapy pump.

Money was also raised in memory of Elvis, who died 25 years ago, by Wycombe fans.

Paperchain Partnership became the first Gold Friend of the Appeal, giving £6,000 from their toner cartridge recycling scheme. The money will sponsor the chemotherapy nurse area and counselling room.

Parveen Sheikh, a cancer patient, mobilised the Asian community with events from June to September, finally raising £8,500.

Cathy Keating, who has cancer, used her wedding in September to help the appeal by asking guests to give the money they would have spent on presents to the appeal.

In the same month, Scannappeal's patron Cilla Black became the first individual Platinum Friend with her donation to the appeal and launched the Buy a Brick campaign.

Fundraising continued apace during the autumn.

The Wycombe Business Excellence Awards ceremony raised £5,000, while in October Geezers barber group held a massive headshave at the Toad pub in High Wycombe, raising £10,500.

Verco Office Furniture became the second business to be a Gold Friend, supplying office chairs for the unit. The company also renovated Scannappeal's mock scanner collecting box in the main reception at Wycombe Hospital.

In November, MP Cheryl Gillan (Lib Dem, Amersham and Chesham), opened the Festive Fair at Amersham Hospital which raised £1,300.

Members of the Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs held a workout at Cressex School and raised £900, while in contrast the Ladies Indulgence Evening at Wycombe Hospital brought in 350 people and £2,500. Irene Rogers gave £2,500 from her sponsored slim.

Limited Edition launched a reader appeal to sponsor a complementary therapy room.

Lions clubs, which had a target of £3,000, got one stage closer by donating £550. Baco gave £500 to mark its 50th anniversary.

Mr and Mrs Kempton celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by asking friends to make donations instead of gifts.

The 100th brick was sold to Duncan Bailey Kennedy. Ortho-clinical Diagnostics pulled £10,000 from a Christmas cracker at Scannappeal's Christmas concert.

And the fundraising goes on.

There is a Burns Night supper tonight at Wycombe Heights Golf Club, a quiznight on February 28 at John Hampden Grammar School, Straight Eight concert on March 22 at Wycombe Swan and an Antiques Evening at Fitzwilliam Centre, Beaconsfield and a 60s Party Night on May 9 at Court Gardens, Marlow.

The first patient through the doors next month will receive a bouquet. And in the summer, celebrity patron Cilla Black will be greeted in the same way, when she arrives to perform the official opening ceremony.

And no doubt, she will know just how much hard work has gone into making sure the appeal has even reached that stage.

January 24, 2003 11:00