AN ATHERTON couple have been asked to take a special bow -- for helping Christie's Hospital finally reach its £25 million target.

Stalwart Christie campaigners, Lib Dem Councillor Bob Splaine and his wife Ilse,have raised thousands of pounds for the Christie's Against Cancer.

Over the past 10 years, the couple have been holding a strawberry fair at their home in Cumberland Road, Atherton.

It has escalated from a small get together to a major summer event for the town, attracting thousands of visitors -- spreading to three neighbouring gardens.

Overall, the event has raised a staggering £10,000 and last year it regenerated £2,361.

Coun Splaine, 65, started the fair following his wife's successful battle against cancer. Ilse, also 65, was given chemotherapy at Christie's in 1988 and ever since, the couple have raised money.

It is estimated the couple have handed more than £50,000 to the charity in the past ten years, from donations and fund-raising cash.

Coun Splaine said: "It's been lovely to hear the hospital has reached its target. We're now going to turn our attention to the research side.

"Christie's has 80,000 patients each year which shows the extent of the disease. Christie's worked hard to save my wife's life after she was given only three months to live. I owe them so much and we decided to put something back."

The money helped Christie's Against Cancer to smash its target. The unprecedented support of the cancer centre has made this the most successful charity appeal ever mounted outside London.

The £25 million, raised after four years of hard fund-raising in Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and surrounding towns, can now help Christie Hospital continue its world firsts in cancer research and treatment.

Patron-in-chief, the Duchess of Kent, who launched the appeal in 1997, said: "Christie's is an extraordinary hospital with a remarkable reputation. It generates so much goodwill that it is like being part of a family."

Many people, often ex-patients, have also contributed greatly to the appeal's success taking part in courageous -- and often daring -- challenges.

Appeals Director Angela Roden, a former breast cancer patient treated at Christie, said: "Success means we can move to the next phase of a continuing campaign against cancer.

"The £25 million equips us with the tools in the form of very advanced equipment and facilities.

"Now we must rededicate our efforts towards the further funding of highly specialised research, for here lie the keys to increasingly effective results."

Coun Splaine and his wife will be holding their 10th anniversary fair on July 1 with free admission.

More than 400 people are expected to attend and visitors are being enticed with strawberries and cream, cake and tea.

Bolton Wanderers' mascot Lofty the Lion will also attend.

This year is also the 100th anniversary of Christie's Hospital. Fact file How the money is being spent: A new surgical suite enabling patients to benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer care.

A cancer information centre.

New in-patient facilities for young people.

A counselling service.

A rehabilitation centre to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families.

A radiotherapy planning and treatment suite to develop new techniques for increasing the effectiveness of radiotherapy.

An innovative treatment unit testing new anti-cancer agents and treatments.

A cancer diagnosis and gene-therapy centre to develop ways of diagnosing, preventing and treating the disease.

A magnetic resonance imaging scanner for accurate diagnosis, especially of secondary tumours.

A minimally invasive therapy unit, allowing clinical intervention while a patient is scanned.