BUSINESS bosses and charity chiefs have been toasting the success of this year's Swindon Cares Week. From designing Christmas cards, to cycling in the cold, and being quizzed on general knowledge, thousands of you have dug out notes and coins to give to charity.

This year is the event's second year and at a special meeting at the GW pub opposite Swindon's train station yesterday, Swindon Cares chairman and Wiltshire High Sheriff James Arkell announced that just over £20,500 had been raised.

Each of the four charities benefiting from this year's event receiving exactly £5,126.25.

Last year's event raised just over £14,000.

Mr Arkell said: "Swindon Cares has become all embracing. This year we have managed to raise more than £20,000, which is a thrilling amount when you consider we have only really been fundraising for two weeks.

"In between has been so much hard work by the committee, but the commitment shown by everyone this year has all been worthwhile."

This year Swindon Cares raised money for the Evening Advertiser's Swindon Cancer Appeal, the NSPCC, Age Concern in Swindon and the GWR FM Community Trust.

Graziella Campisano, appeal manager for Macmillan said that the amount raised was amazing.

She said: "It's amazing it's more then we had last year, and much more than we expected, especially when you consider it was split between four charities this year, rather than three."

Justin Bradfield, regional fundraising manager for the NSPCC said the money raised will go a long way to protect children in the town.

"It's a great sum of money and although we have not fully decided what to use the money on, it will go to both of our centres in Swindon the North Swindon Family Centre and the Swindon Centre.

Rachel Jones, Trust manager for the GWR FM Community Trust said: "Our trust helps all charities across Wiltshire, but this money will be used as grants to as many Swindon charities as possible.

Jacquie Sheppard, former fundraising manager for Age Concern Swindon said: "This year's Swindon Cares week has been fantastic. The money will help go towards our advice service which provides elderly people with details of benefits which are available to them."

Swindon Cares is an umbrella organisation of local businesses and organisations, including the Evening Advertiser, Nationwide, Zurich, BBC Radio Swindon, Swindon Council, the Rotary Club of Swindon, Arkell's brewery, GWR FM and Swindon Chamber.

Anthony Osborne