A BIG thank-you went out to the East Lancashire public today after the SuperScan appeal smashed through the £500,000 barrier.

The major milestone in the fund-raising effort comes 20 months after it was launched.

And organisers today set their sights on reaching their target by the end of the year.

Mike Trickett, chairman of the East Lancashire SuperScan Appeal, paid tribute to the amazing generosity of the public.

He said: "I would like to thank personally the countless thousands of men, women and children from all walks of life who have donated most generously to the appeal. Commerce and industry have also played their part while voluntary organisations have been superb. "All in all it has been a tremendous effort right across the whole of East Lancashire and my sincere thanks go out to everyone who has contributed something to the appeal.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the members of the various SuperScan area committees who have worked so hard to help raise this magnificent sum."

Doctors believe the life-saving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner is a medical necessity. It can detect a range of serious illnesses and conditions.

The high-tech machine will be housed in Blackburn Infirmary, but will be for the benefit of all East Lancashire patients.

It will cost about £850,000 to buy and SuperScan officials are confident that they will have achieved their goal by the end of 1997.

Mike added: "We now know that we have to raise less money than we have collected and that is a huge psychological boost. We still need the help and support to ensure we get the MRI scanner installed and operational by the spring of 1988."

The forthcoming Motorway Superwalk '97 is expected to raise thousands of pounds and a host of other events are in the pipeline.

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