A FUNDRAISING drive to extend and refurbish the region’s only dedicated cancer centre has now passed the half-way mark.

The Difference – NHS Borders’ own charity – needs to raise £210,000 of the £830,000 total cost for improving the Macmillan Centre at Borders General Hospital.

This week their fundraising reached £130,000 after collecting a cheque from complimentary therapy charity The Lavender Touch.

The Lavender Touch helps cancer sufferers and their families across the Scottish Borders.

Representative Shiela Scott handed over a cheque for £5,000 at the Macmillan Cancer Centre.

She told us: “The Lavender Touch is delighted to continue to work closely with The Difference to help improve services for people with cancer in the Borders region.

“We are here to support cancer patients so when we saw how this project was going to improve the experience for those coming to use the centre, whether for treatment or advice, we were happy to help.”

The Macmillan Centre at Borders General Hospital opened in 2003.

It is hoped that work will begin later this year to expand and fully refurbish the unit.

Judith Smith, Macmillan nurse consultant and lead clinician for cancer, added: “The Lavender Touch is a wonderful charity who work so closely with NHS Borders to provide complementary therapies and treatments.

“I am delighted that they felt able to support our appeal which will greatly enhance the treatment space for our cancer patients.”