THE Rockbourne Fair raised £56,158 for the breast cancer unit campaign, bringing the total amount close to half the target.

The appeal run by the Stars Appeal and backed by the Journal now stands at over £350,000.

Readers have been supporting the appeal in a variety of ways.

Tiggy Martin from Lower Woodford organised a pyramid fundraising lunch earlier this month, raising more than £400.

She invited ten friends over for lunch who then pledged to each hold a lunch and invite another ten friends.

She said: “I was looking for an easier way than running a marathon or doing a long hike to raise money. “Everyone made a donation and I also sold some greeting cards my mother painted for the campaign.

“The new unit will make all the difference for women while going through the wretched mill of breast cancer and all it entails.

“Having been treated by the unit for breast cancer at Salisbury I can only praise and thank the staff for their dedication and care whilst getting me through each stage of treatment.”

NFU Mutual ran a festive taste test outside the Guildhall earlier this month asking people to stop and taste the difference between two supermarket brands and a local baker.

The rural insurer donated £1 for every vote cast in its taste test to the campaign and raised £600. Reeve the baker’s pies were named the tastiest.

The Philola salon in High Street is holding an open evening next Thursday from 6pm to 8.30pm. It will be offering free advice and workshops in colour, styling and hair care, free goody bags and refreshments as well as a 30 per cent off colour service voucher from January 1 to February 28.