A FUNDRAISING appeal to enable a Ramsbottom man to undergo pioneering stem cell surgery got into full "swing" this week.

Banker Peter Jackson completed a marathon 85 holes at Greenmount Golf Club on Wednesday to raise £3,000 which will go towards the fund for his best friend, Alastair Vinden.

Alastair (39), who suffers heart failure, is to undergo groundbreaking surgery in Germany next month and needs to raise more than £5,000 for his treatment.

Alastair and his wife Alison have launched the STAR (Stem cell Therapy Appeal Ramsbottom) fund and friends, family and the local community have rallied round to help.

The former dental technician, of Stamford Hall Crescent, fell victim to a heart attack seven years ago and since then has suffered heart failure.

He has a condition called anti phospho-lipid, a form of sticky blood, and has undergone two assessments for a possible heart transplant.

But Alastair is hopeful that the pioneering stem cell surgery will significantly improve his condition.

He is scheduled to undergo the two-hour procedure at the Frankfurt University Hospital in Germany late next month.

The father-of-two's wife, Alison, explained: "The surgery involves taking stem cells from his hip bone and then injecting them into one side of his heart. We hope that this will repair the damaged heart tissue.

"This is a very new procedure and there's going to be trials of it in London soon. We only found out about it after reading an article in a newspaper."

She added: "Basically, we got in touch with Professor Zeiher, the chap who does this, and now we've been given a date for the surgery. Alastair will spend three days in the clinic."

Both Alison and Alastair are delighted at the response to their appeal.

"We've got a lot of promised money and people are coming up with ideas. We've also written to numerous charities and the local support has been fantastic," continued Alison.

Yesterday, youngsters at Greenmount pre-school undertook a sponsored bouncy castle event to raise cash.

And on Wednesday, Alastair joined Peter Jackson at Greenmount Golf Club to watch his friend begin his 11-hour, 85-hole marathon.

Peter (41), a premier banking manager with Barclays, said: "Afterwards, my knees felt like concrete but it was worth it. I have raised about £3,000 thanks to big donations from Ascot Environmental in Radcliffe, Key Frame Windows in Kearsley, Barclays, of course, and JRB Systems in Heywood.

"I can't thank Greenmount Golf Club enough. The members and captain were so helpful. They let me play through and backed me all the way."

Anyone wishing to support the fund raising can make a donation to STAR at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Ramsbottom.