BUCKETS and books helped raise almost £60,000 for a hospital charity.

The Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s charity, raised the cash through collections at its bookshop and through bucket collections.

The amounts, collected in 2022, were revealed during a special cheque and certificate presentation attended by some of the bookshop and bucket collection volunteers, alongside Stars Appeal’s Hospital Ambassadors.

Last year, the Bookshop raised £36,481.30, which brings its all-time total since it first opened in 2003 to £597,258.58.

Meanwhile, the Stars Appeal bucket collectors at the hospital collected £20,752.27 last year.

Dave Cates, of the Stars Appeal, said: “We want to say a big thank you to all of our bookshop and bucket collecting volunteers for their incredible efforts which make such a difference, not just through the funds that they raise, but also the support they give to patients and their families who come to Hospital, often facing difficult times.

“Thank you to everyone who donates to our bucket collectors and supports our bookshop. The funds raised are a vital step towards the £1 million we are aiming to raise this year to fund projects supporting patients and staff here at the Hospital.”

Projects the Stars Appeal are looking to fund for this year include a £142,000 echocardiogram machine for the Cardiac Investigation Unit to reduce waiting times for patients awaiting diagnosis, £55,000 for new scalp cooling machines to help reduce hair loss for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy on the Pembroke Unit, a £20,000 brain function monitor for babies on the Neonatal Unit, and a £15,000 mechanical CPR machine.

These are in addition to the ongoing projects the Stars Appeal fund including support for cancer patients, a 24/7 chaplaincy service, a staff counsellor, and free wifi.