AS part of Eric Saffin's cancer treatment in London he had a lead mask made to protect most of his head during his treatment.

This mask making process is one of the things the Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE) is fundraising for.

SURE is aiming to raise £750,000 to provide a volumetric spiral CT scanner, the training and running of the machine for three years and all the equipment for a mask making room.

Describing how his lead mask was made Eric said: "First they put this stuff on your face that I can only describe as custard like.

"This then starts to heat up and set and just at the right time it is taken off.

"This mask is then used to make a stronger mould, which is then used to create a plastic mould which fits exactly on the head.

"They then make the lead plates off of this mould which can be screwed onto it for surgery.

"They will use the mould every time the patient has surgery, as it is specially marked up so the treatment is in exactly the right place each time.

"We want a mould room for Taunton because it meets the objective we set out with for SURE - to stop people having to travel to Bristol for treatment."

So far SURE has raised over £500,000, with £44,755 raised since the County Gazette joined the campaign last May.

Donation this week have come in from Patricia Hodge £20, Mike and Angie Merrick and Christine Cann £4,517, John Osment £37, Rose Mitchell Gears £10, Wellington Baptist Church Ladies Fellowship £100, Mr Platt £13, Mr and Mrs Bashford £200, West Monkton Carol Singers £250, Ashill Woman's Fellowship £100 and St Andrew's Ladies £100.