A TAUNTON charity is celebrating this week after reaching a £1/2 million mark in its fundraising.

The Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE) has been fundraising since 2000 to help equip a new haematology and oncology centre, which is due to be built at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

The charity was started by Barry Palmer, chairman of SURE, after he saw first hand how much cancer patients from the area suffered having to drive to Bristol and back on a daily basis for treatment.

So he convinced the hospital trust to build a cancer centre in Taunton to provide the best treatment for people locally - however SURE had to agree to help fund some of the equipment.

The original target was set at £450,000 which would provide a CT scanner/simulator to locate and treat tumours, as well as pay for the first three years training and running costs.

But, as there were delays in negotiations for the centre, and as technology progressed, the figure was raised to £600,000 - which would help pay for a revolutionary volumetric scanner/simulator.

Celebrating the £1/2 million point Eric Saffin, treasurer for SURE, said: "It is amazing that we have raised so much and also how many people are behind the campaign, fundraising and hosting events to keep the money rolling in.

"Now we just have to focus on the rest.

"It is taking time to raise, but we will get there, and when we do it will benefit so many people."

However, the SURE group is having to raise its target again.

Mr Saffin said: "It came to light that those patients with throat or facial cancers, and who required a face mask, would still be required to make journeys to and fro to Bristol where the only facility for mask making is located.

"SURE again decide that travelling to Bristol was something that was not on our agenda and we would therefore in addition to our previous commitments fund the provision of a mask making facility at Musgrove Park Hospital.

"All this, coupled with inflation, has of course raised the amount that we shall need to raise to somewhere in excess of £750,000.

"But with the generous level of support that has come from the whole of the hospital's catchment area and beyond in many cases, SURE, is confident that we shall be able to help make our new oncology centre a centre of excellence."

PHOTO: Steve Richardson Pictured: