The Dorset County Hospital Charity Cancer Appeal is approaching its final hurdle in its mission to raise £1.75 million to bring radiotherapy services to Dorchester for the first time.

With nearly £1.6 million now raised, organisers of a well-established vintage fair are throwing their weight behind the appeal in order to make sure it crosses the finish line.

Buckham Fair is held every August near Beaminster on land owned by Martin and Philippa Clunes.

Each year, the ever-increasingly popular fair raises funds for a variety of charities and this year, on its tenth anniversary, Martin and Philippa and their organising committee have decided to support the Dorset County Hospital Charity Cancer Appeal.

Last year the event raised £99,000 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and this year a target of £100,000 has been set.

Philippa along with Bhavani Hogarty and Vanessa Voegel-Downing from the Buckham Fair committee visited Dorset County Hospital to see first-hand progress at the construction site. They were also given a guided tour of the building to check out the progress on the new radiotherapy unit and outpatient department.

Following the visit, Bhavani said: “This was a really important visit for us as it has enabled us to get a real idea of the project we have chosen to support. We are delighted that this year’s Buckham Fair will be in aid of the appeal and we will be working with the hospital and the charity team to ensure that this year’s show is the best ever.”

Patricia Miller, chief executive officer for Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust added: “It was great to meet with the team and show them around the new radiotherapy unit and outpatients department. We are very grateful to them for their decision to support the appeal and for all the hard work they will be putting in to this excellent event on our behalf.”

The Cancer Appeal is supporting a £9 million project bringing radiotherapy services to Dorchester for the first time. Following a major legacy from Poole businessman Robert White and funding from Poole Hospital, a new radiotherapy unit is being built at Dorset County Hospital.

As part of this project Dorset County Hospital Charity is raising £1.75 million to build a new Cancer and Haematology Outpatients Department on top of the radiotherapy unit.

When the project is complete, patients from north, west and south Dorset who currently have to travel to Poole for radiotherapy treatment will be able to receive this treatment in Dorchester. This will save many patients and their families the considerable stress, cost and inconvenience of repeated long journeys to Poole.

The Cancer Appeal is also funding major changes and improvements in the hospital’s existing chemotherapy unit which will provide additional space for patient care and enable family and friends to sit with patients while they are receiving treatment.

New attractions for anniversary

Buckham Fair will take place this year on Sunday, August 19. To mark the tenth anniversary a host of new spectacles and attractions will be introduced including the Devil’s Horsemen Display Team, the Stunt Dogs of Film and TV and the Quack Pack herding display.

Neil Morrissey will also return to judge The Dog Even More Like Neil Morrissey competition. Other attractions include a traditional funfair, a marching band, artisan and craft traders and a food court featuring delicacies from around the world. There will also be a Guinness World Record Attempt for the most dogs sitting simultaneously.

The charity will also be well-represented at the fair and the charity team is looking forward to meeting and working with other members of the Buckham Fair committee to support the event.

A call for volunteers has resulted in a number of staff from DCH stepping forward to help with stewarding and fundraising activities on the day.

Simon Pearson, head of fundraising at Dorset County Hospital Charity said: “This tremendous support from Buckham Fair moves the appeal significantly closer to achieving its final target.

"We look forward to meeting as many people as possible on the day and talking to them about the huge difference new radiotherapy and outpatient facilities will make to all our Cancer patients.”

For more information about the appeal and how to support it please contact Rachel Cole at the charity office on 01305 253215 or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk