THE Stars Appeal Breast Cancer Unit Campaign has just hit £400,000.

The appeal was launched in September with £190,000 so over the past four months, people across Salisbury and south Wiltshire have helped raise a huge £210,000.

Backed by the Journal, readers of all ages have been showing their support for Salisbury District Hospital and its patients by organising a whole raft of fundraising events.

They have included students at Wiltshire College who held a Christmas Fair complete with an Elfie Selfie photo booth and reindeer rodeo, the Chalke Valley Ladies’ Choir who held a concert and Downton-based food distributor 3663 whose staff made donations in order to wear a Christmas jumper to work.

Consultant breast surgeon and joint campaign chairman Vicky Brown said: “We sincerely thank everyone who has helped us to make such significant progress towards our £750,000 target so far.

“The response from the local community has been wonderful and underlines the importance of this project that really could benefit any one of us. Our message now is please, please keep up the great work and help us build this much needed Breast Unit as soon as possible.”

The campaign has a target of £750,000, which will enable patients with breast cancer to be treated in a dedicated breast care unit. The unit will enable the hospital to offer faster diagnosis and treatment for patients, with same day diagnosis and state-of-the-art equipment along with purposebuilt waiting, diagnostic and treatment rooms, and counselling rooms for men and women who have just been told they have cancer.

It will also mean patients will no longer need to visit other departments or repeatedly dress and undress for mammograms and scans.