THE Magic Eye appeal to buy life-saving scanner equipment has rocketed after a mystery £20,000 cash injection.

The cheque was recently received by staff at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, and was cleared by the bank this week.

Now after six months of fundraising £170,760 is in the coffers and appeal organisers are hoping to hit a £200,000 target months before schedule.

The aim is to buy an endoscopic ultrasound scanner for the people of East Lancashire to ensure the quicker diagnosis and treatment of all upper gastro intestinal cancers.

The fund total is also accelerating as money from six sponsored walks in October floods into the appeal office.

The generous mystery donation was made on the understanding that the person's identity would remain a secret.

Sheila Shaw, the appeal co-ordinator, said: "Great excitement swept over everyone connected with the appeal when the magnificent donation was received.

"We are extremely grateful to the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, for giving the appeal fund such a generous amount. Thank you so much."

A £10,000 anonymous donation was given to the cancer scanner appeal in June after being sent through the post. Organisers still have no clue where it came from as the sender even protected their identity by using a bank cheque rather than signing a name.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph appeal hopes to raise enough money to buy the life saving endoscopic ultrasound equipment which will help at least 600 patients in East Lancashire with the quicker diagnosis of cancer.

More than £50,000 was pledged by sponsors to the thousand or so walkers who took part in six sponsored walks. But with the official deadline date for sponsorship money to be cashed in on November 15, appeal organisers are hoping to see the tally totting up even faster.

All donations of £15 or more received before November 15 go into a draw for a £100 holiday voucher -- one for each circuit.

Nathan Kaushik of Dilworth Court, Longridge, was one of the walkers on the short Clitheroe circuit with his father Vishal, who will be working with the endoscopic ultrasound equipment in Blackburn.

At the age of seven, he was given a Magic Eye Youth Award for his efforts collecting £42 in sponsorship.

Mr Kaushik, the consultant surgeon at Blackburn who is already trained to use the diagnostic machine, said: "I thought the day was very enjoyable and Nathan thought it was great. I think everyone did extremely well and the generosity of people has been tremendous. There is a realistic chance that we will have the money by Christmas."

Magic Eye Reebok baseball caps and Christmas cards are also available at all the Evening Telegraph offices and East Lancashire hospitals.