A CAMPAIGN to buy a vital scanner for Malvern Community Hospital has hit the half-way mark, thanks to the generosity of Malvern Gazette readers.

And top mountain biker Liam Killeen has weighed in to support the appeal, saying he knows first-hand how important such medical equipment is.

The Friends of the hospital embarked earlier this year on one of their most ambitious projects yet - raising £60,000 to buy an imaging device for a new pain clinic.

The Malvern Gazette backed the Friends by launching the Ease The Pain appeal in April. Now, just eight weeks after the launch, the appeal has hit the £30,000 figure.

Liam's Olympic hopes last year were dashed after a crash saw him break bones, needing weeks of specialist treatment "It's tremendously important to provide the benefits of the latest technology to people in our local community," he said.

"The pain scanning equipment has an important part to play in helping to reduce pain and the restrictions that pain places on everyday life.

"I know how distracting and restricting having pain can be from my own experience of injuries and pain in my cycling career."

Maureen Williams of the Friends said: "It's absolutely wonderful that we've got to this total so soon. It's a fantastic sum of money to have raised in such a short time. Now we have to keep up the momentum and make sure the money keeps coming in. We've has a wonderful response for the community."

She said a coffee morning in Malvern Link on Saturday raised £319, not counting a single donation of £100 from one local resident. A stall at the community hospital on Wednesday raised another £48 in just a couple of hours.

Meanwhile, collection boxes are being rolled out to shops in Barnards Green and Great Malvern, to complement those already out in the Link.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Penny Venables said “What a fantastic achievement to meet this milestone, thank you so much to all your readers for their contributions. We’re delighted that local NHS services are so close to people’s hearts. The clinic will help patients affected by chronic pain. It’s often a very isolating condition, so to see the community coming together in support is wonderful.”

Stewart Messer, trust chief operating officer said “We’re already overwhelmed by the generosity of the local people involved in this campaign, and you’re showing no signs of slowing. Great to hear that we’ve hit the halfway mark, we really do appreciate everyone’s efforts.”

The Swim4Gold fundraising event due to be held tomorrow (Saturday) has been cancelled because of insufficient entries. Organisers hope to reschedule it for later in the year.