A CAMPAIGN to raise £1m to improve the care of cancer patients has been boosted by a County Durham software company.

The appeal aims to create a centre of excellence in cancer care for the people of County Durham.

The year-long fundraising drive, launched by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, is being backed by The Northern Echo to mark the paper’s 150th anniversary in 2020.

Support so far includes software developers Excelpoint, based at Aycliffe Business Park, donating two 40-inch high-definition LED televisions and a tablet computer to be raffled.

The TVs are manufactured by Cello at South Church, near Bishop Auckland, and the donation was made on behalf of one of Excelpoint’s customers, Cyclife, which is a division of EDF Energy.

Excelpoint managing director, Ian Brown, decided to support the appeal after talking to Pat Chambers, manager of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s official charity, at a meeting of Darlington Business Club.

The Northern Echo:

“We support a lot of charities but we are particularly pleased to help this one because it is so close to home and touches everyone in some way,” said Mr Brown.

One of the TVs and the computer will be part of a raffle at a sportsman’s dinner at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, on June 13. Guest speakers will be Kevin Keegan and Peter Reid, with Sky Sports Pete Graves acting as compere.

The other TV will be raffled at the Trust’s International Nurses Conference at the Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe, on May 10.

Pat Chambers said: “There are so many different ways that individuals and businesses can support the appeal and we are extremely grateful to Excelpoint for their contribution.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate via: www.justgiving.com/cddft

Call: 01325 743781

Email Pat Chambers at: pat.chambers1@nhs.net or search Facebook and Twitter: @cddftcharity