 |  | We are well on our way to the £1million target to provide a 'state of the art' prostate cancer unit to serve the whole of the South West region.
The Chestnut Appeal has been an incredible project to-date; here's a little flavour of how you've helped us get to a staggering £700,000. In July 2003, Staddon Heights Golf Club donated a massive £10,000 to the appeal, this has been the biggest single donation so far.
When we received it the total for the appeal stood at £97,407.35
Of course it would be hard to forget the triumph of BBC Radio Devon reporter Jo Bishop, she spent a month walking around the Devon Boundary.
Jo collected money from well-wishers along the route. She walked 460 miles with her dog Bella and increased the amount raised by more than £7,000.
 Matt Woodley's 24 hour Broadcasting Marathon raised over £30,000 as you rang in with donations and pledges in support of the boy broadcaster.
Matt didn't think he'd make it at one point, but did a fantastic job - and his voice held out right up until the party poppers and champagne corks signalled the end of the challenge.
The Plymouth and South West Co-op held a sponsored walk through the co-operative way.
The weather was dry and cool, perfect walking weather. The walk was started by Spotlight's Natalie Cornah and, along with the proceeds of an auction and the contents of their collecting boxes, raised another £20,000 for the appeal.
 The Chestnut Charity Football Match kicked off in St Agnes in November. Barclays Bank agreed to match £ for £ the money collected on the day. Over £1000 was raised.
Crazy fundraiser Paul Holmes got down to the bare essentials when he took a charity dip in the River Tamar - completely naked!
Paul and other regulars at the Royal Albert Bridge Inn raised £3,500 through a sponsored swim.
Paul said: "I went swimming naked, because someone sponsored me £1.75 to do it. It was absolutely freezing.
"The other guys swam in the river while wearing Chestnut Appeal tee-shirts and we all had some fun." - Wow things people will do for charity! And staying with the swimming theme, Terry and Ray Chapman carried out a sponsored swim at Launceston swimming pool and raised £2,000 for the appeal.
Test the County turned into the largest pub quiz in the South West, with over 1,000 teams taking part. Questions were asked over the Radio Devon airwaves by Judi Spiers - doing a very good impression of Anne Robinson.
 The victors were 'Spectrum Music' (after a head to head final against 'Da Management' and the 'Arboreal Ever Greens'). Congratulations and thanks to everybody who helped top up the coffers by more than £10,000 on the night. Jill Lock from Jesters Nightclub has really got behing the appeal, her aim is to raise over £15,000. On the morning that Judi Spiers presented her show live from Jill's pub, Harry Tates, the Masons handed over an enormous cheque for £58,000. Remember those unwanted Christmas presents sent in by BBC Radio Devon listeners to raise money for the Chestnut Appeal.
Hertz of Plymouth kindly lent us a van which we loaded up and set up stall at the Tavistock Pannier Market.
The day was an amazing success. We'd nearly sold out by the time BBC Radio Devon's Michael Chequer arrived to broadcast from the site. By 3pm we were packed away.
A second Market stall was held - this time mainly clothes. The pace was a lot slower and the day more relaxing but again very successful.
In total we raised over £1,800.
These are just a few of the great fundraising events that have helped us on the road to £1m.
Whether it's 50p or £50,000 it all helps to get us that step closer to the new building and we thank everyone who has helped us so far and those who plan to help us on the final push. |
