HEALTH chiefs have placed an order for the life-saving scanner machine and said a big "thank you" to the caring folk of East Lancashire - nearly a million of them! Fund-raisers have raised a huge £880,000 for the SuperScan Appeal and need just another £35,000 to fully fund the machine which is due to be installed at Blackburn Royal Infirmary in the spring.

The money has been raised over two years through various activities, including a massive £152,000 in the M65 Motorway Superwalk 1997.

Appeal chairman Mike Trickett said: "The response has been overwhelming. It is a marvellous tribute to the kindness and generosity of you all.

"The SuperScan Appeal has been something that I personally have been proud to be associated with, and now that we are almost within touching distance of our target, everybody who has either been connected with or has donated to the SuperScan Appeal, must have a feeling of great personal satisfaction.

'"I am confident of raising the remaining £35,000."

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner will be able to detect a range of life threatening conditions, including cancer, and will serve the people of East Lancashire.

Ian Woolley, chairman, and John Thomas, chief executive of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said: "The MRI scanner will bring great benefit to the people of East Lancashire.

"We would like to thank all those volunteers who worked so hard to raise funds and thank Mike Trickett for doing such a splendid job." Fund-raisers have raised a huge £880,000 for the SuperScan Appeal and need just another £35,000 to fully fund the machine which is due to be installed at Blackburn Royal Infirmary in the spring.

The money has been raised over two years through various activities, including a massive £152,000 in the M65 Motorway Superwalk 1997.

Appeal chairman Mike Trickett said: "The response has been overwhelming. It is a marvellous tribute to the kindness and generosity of you all.

"The SuperScan Appeal has been something that I personally have been proud to be associated with, and now that we are almost within touching distance of our target, everybody who has either been connected with or has donated to the SuperScan Appeal, must have a feeling of great personal satisfaction.

'"I am confident of raising the remaining £35,000."

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner will be able to detect a range of life threatening conditions, including cancer, and will serve the people of East Lancashire.

Ian Wooley, chairman, and John Thomas, chief executive of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said: "The MRI scanner will bring great benefit to the people of East Lancashire.

"We would like to thank all those volunteers who worked so hard to raise funds and thank Mike Trickett for doing such a splendid job."

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