THE Digital Mammography Appeal now only has £150,000 to go after a wave of generous donations.

This comes after the Dorset Echo ran the highly successful fundraising competition in which £1,264 was raised in a week-long phone and text competition.

A total of £500,000 is needed in order to purchase and install a digital mammography machine – rather than film and chemicals – meaning faster diagnosis and the ability to treat greater numbers.

The stark facts are that one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and of these, one in four will die from the disease.

So far, with a sterling effort from residents of Dorset and supporters of the appeal, a whopping £350,000 has been raised but a big boost is needed in order to raise the thousands left to go.

Chairman of the appeal Wendy Nightingale, who has been treated for breast cancer at DCH said, said: “This is an appeal that has touched the hearts of people all around Dorset.

“Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by it and I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support that the appeal has gained.”

The West Dorset Breast Cancer Support Group handed over a cheque for £2,000 because their members felt so strongly that the X-ray unit needs to be replaced at the county hospital.

Chairman Marjorie Hughes, who suffered from breast cancer three years ago, said: “When you have breast cancer you cannot underestimate how important it is to get results quickly.

“The current process which I used is old and out of date and I felt strongly that we should help the appeal.”

Community groups, big and small, and fundraisers young and old have been inspired to hold coffee mornings, street parties in aid of the appeal.

The Weymouth panto group raised £300 and the chaps who co-ordinate the bring and buy sale raised a total of £500.

The local charity SERO donated £1,000 to the charity this month in memory of one of their members who suffered from breast cancer and was treated at DCH.