AFTER 16 months of tireless fundraising, the Brighter Futures radiotherapy appeal has smashed the £1m mark.

It means the appeal is well on the way to hitting its £2.9m target, and on Thursday night the team invited volunteers and fundraisers to a special celebration held at Swindon Borough Council’s Civic Offices in Euclid Street.

A fine selection of canapes and a liberal sprinkling of wine followed passionate and heartfelt speeches from those personally affected by the crushing impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Tracey Phillips, a Brighter Futures volunteer who has previously been through breast cancer treatment, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant that they have reached £1m and it should act as a huge stepping stone towards the target.”

Mayor Eric Shaw, who made Brighter Futures his charity of the year, told the gathering: “The reason why I chose to support this appeal is that so many of us have personal experience of cancer, and the opportunity to get a radiotherapy unit in Swindon seemed to me too important to miss.

“We are not a million miles away from the £2.9m we need, but it is a large target. Therefore, anything I can do to raise funds this year, I will do.”

The appeal was launched in May 2015 to help bring cancer closer to those living in Wiltshire by setting up a radiotherapy unit at the Great Western Hospital.

People currently needing treatment have to travel all the way to Oxford.

Speaking about the journey that so many cancer patients have to make, the mayor said: “Travelling all that way is not only stressful on the person receiving the treatment but also on the person who accompanies them.

“The number of people who need to travel for treatment is frightening, and it appears to be rising. The sooner we can reach that target the better.”

Ian Sharpe, president of the Rotary Club of Swindon, said: “Like a great number of people, I have been touched by cancer. My wife had to travel to Oxford for five weeks and it’s a very daunting experience when you’re undergoing cancer treatment.

“I think that knowing they don’t have to travel all that way will be such a lift for people.”

The appeal has managed to reach the £1m thanks mainly to the generosity of ordinary people giving up their free time to fundraise.

Sir John Sykes, chairman of the Dr T C Wilson Charitable Trust, said: “When we first heard about the appeal we thought we could make a great contribution to it.

“It is a truly marvellous cause and a huge amount of money to raise. With any luck, the remaining money will soon be found and radiotherapy will come to Swindon.”

The Brighter Futures team is very grateful for every single donation and wish to thank everyone for their support. To donate you can send cut out and send in the attached form or log on to www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk