WILTON Rotary Club recently donated a staggering £15,000 to the Stars Appeal, Salisbury Hospital’s Charity.

Various events, including the popular Wilton Wake Ups which saw car enthusiast gather at Wilton House, saw the club break its fundraising records.

Fundraising events raised £11,200 – but the club unveiled a cheque for £15,000.

The check was presented to the Stars Appeal at the club’s monthly guest night on Monday (October 6) at Mercure White Hart Hotel in Salisbury.

The evening saw 60 guests gather to thank the helpers at this year’s Mammoth Car Boot Sale and celebrate a summer of extraordinary generosity by the public and volunteers.

Stars Appeal’s head of fundraising, Dave Cates and three Stars Appeal ambassadors – Roger Humphry, Sridhar Sampalli and Dr Rowena Staples – shared inspiring stories of how the club’s incredible fundraising over the years has changed lives by providing life-saving equipment, care for premature babies and vital programs for seriously ill children.

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In a moving moment Dave shared the thank you received by Gill Wade, who had used a new ‘by your side chair‘ funded by last year’s donation to keep her promise and stay with her husband throughout his last days. Her husband was a former Wilton Rotarian, Colin Wade.

Paediatric consultant and Stars Appeal ambassador Dr Rowena Staples said: “It is a privilege to receive this wonderful donation on behalf of our hospital charity the Stars Appeal.

“I thank everyone at Wilton Rotary Club and their many friends and supporters for their committed ongoing support. I also record my thanks to our president Lord Pembroke whose support has been instrumental in making this donation possible.

“This marvellous gift will enable us to continue to make a difference to local children and adults being treated at Salisbury Hospital.”

Wilton Rotary Club also paid to install a defibrillator for the Veteran Centre on Wilton Hill and will be providing the Wilton community nurses with a new doppler machine.