THE OUTGOING mayor of Lyme Regis has supported a hospital’s cancer appeal by handing over funding raised from events during his time as first citizen.

Cllr Owen Lovell, who handed over the mayoral chains to Cllr Michaela Ellis last month, presented a cheque for £1,200 to Dorset County Hospital’s charity appeal. Cllr Lovell, together with his wife, Christine, handed over the funding to Simon Pearson, head of fundraising at the charity.

Cllr Lovell said: “We wanted to support the appeal because we understand how much difference it will make to people living in Lyme Regis.

“When the new radiotherapy unit is built, people from Lyme Regis will no longer have to travel to Poole for radiotherapy treatment. This will save them many hours of travel time and reduce levels of stress at this critical time.”

The money was raised by the couple at raffles run over the previous 12 months at official events in the town, as well as at other general fundraising activities.

Mr Pearson showed the couple how the building work at the radiotherapy unit was progressing.

He said: “We are very grateful to the work the mayor and Mrs Lovell have done in Lyme Regis on our behalf.

“We really appreciate the support that the Lyme Regis community have given to this important appeal.”

Lyme Regis Rotary Club also recently donated £1,000 to the appeal following a charity presentation to the group. The presentation was made by the previous club president John Bartlett.

The cancer appeal is funding a new outpatients department for all cancer patients at Dorset County Hospital. It will be built on top of the radiotherapy unit currently under construction on the hospital site in Bridport Road, Dorchester.

The appeal fund is approaching the £1.1m mark, but an additional £700,000 still needs to be tallied up by March next year.

To support the appeal, contact the charity team on 01305 253215 or visit dchft.nhs.uk/charity