Residents of Midsomer Norton and Radstock are invited to join others in a new fundraising group for Cancer Care, due to meet in the New Year. The group will be organising fun activities in the local area to help raise funds towards the Forever Friends Appeal's RUH Cancer Care Campaign – raising £8.5 million towards a new exceptional Cancer Centre at the RUH.

The Forever Friends Appeal urges others to join the group, in a joint effort to fight against this disease and do something special to celebrate the life and memories of their loved ones.

Lotte Buckley, aged 31, of Chilcompton, tells her story about her passion for fundraising: "My loving mum and dear friend Lisa, were both treated at the RUH for breast cancer so it is a cause close to my heart.

"My mum, Janet Buckley, sadly passed away in April 2012 after being treated for breast cancer. My friend, Lisa, also sadly passed away on 27th June 2010, aged 42, leaving her husband, Doug, and two beautiful girls, Kirsty and Millie, after battling with breast cancer twice.

"The current oncologydepartment is pretty dated and tired and not very inspiring or comfortable. This is why it is so important to me to raise the funds for the new Cancer Centre, so that others who have to go through this battering treatment can do so in a nicer environment, which in turn could increase their chances of beating the disease.

"Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer first and then it went to her bones, liver and brain. I worked with Lisa at my previous job at Occam – she was my boss when I first started there and then we became great friends. They are both very much missed."

Zoë Tainton, Community Fundraiser at the Forever Friends Appeal, says: "It is a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and make a real difference to something that affects so many of us. Everyone is more than welcome to join us on Thursday, 23rd January 2014, from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Mallards pub, High Street, Midsomer Norton BA3 2DR. Join us for cakes, coffees and a nice chat!"

If you would like to join the group, please contact Zoë Tainton on: 01225 825825 or email: [email protected]">[email protected]

The appeal's current major fundraising campaign is raising a minimum of £8.5 million towards the cost of a pioneering new Cancer Centre and Therapies Development at the RUH, taking a holistic approach that is designed to produce a highly beneficial healing environment for patients and their families. The new centre will transform RUH cancer services and provide the very best care for all cancer patients and their families.

Through support from the public and major donations from the James Dyson Foundation and Medlock Charitable Trust, the appeal have currently raised over £5.5 million for the new Cancer Centre.

The centre will be another jointly funded NHS/Charitable Funds partnership with the parties contributing 66%/33% respectively.