PATIENTS, staff and visitors at the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital raised £1,000 towards new equipment through a raffle last week.

The draw was organised by the County Gazette-backed Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE), which raised a total of £2,165.04 last week.

Other donations included £300 in 5p coins raised by the ladies of North Petherton WI; £30 from Andrew and Karen Morgan in lieu of Christmas cards; two anonymous donations of £20 in lieu of Christmas cards; and £10 from Mr and Mrs Richard Criddle.

There was also £102.80 in 5ps from Hazel Clist, family and friends; £186.60 from a collection at Tesco, in Chard; a £50 donation from Mr and Mrs C. J. Crawford; £28.41 from the collection pot at Londis, Bridgwater.

And £20 from Mrs B. A. Reeves, of Taunton; £201 from St George’s, Wilton, collected by parishioners during a recent service; £6 in 5ps from the New Horizon Singers; £25.75 in 5ps from Mr and Mrs Whitney of Bridgwater; £5 from the supporters of the staff of G.A. Sully & Sons Ltd, builders of Dunster, who had their heads shaved for charity; and £169.48 from the Beacon Centre, which included £147.85 in 5ps.

A total of £482,481 has now been raised for SURE since it linked up with the County Gazette.