Npower's Carol Hart gives a cheque to Macmillan's Vanessa Davey Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76840-20CASH keeps rolling in for the Swindon Cancer Appeal with RWE Npower donating a massive £21,817 to the charity.

After smashing the £600,000 target a year ahead of schedule, the appeal launched its second phase to reach £1m.

And in just four weeks £51,969.67 has already poured in. Macmillan is RWE Npower's designated charity for 2004 and 2005.

The company, in Whitehill Way, believes in charity work and encourages employees to get involved with community projects.

Carol Hart, the firm's corporate charity and community involvement manager, thinks it is important for big businesses to get involved in the communities in which their employees live and work.

She said: "Raising money for charity in their own community gives employees an ownership of the charity work.

"Employees can see the money working in their community and it may even help them or their relatives."

Since January 2004, employees at RWE Npower have been getting stuck into a variety of challenges. One of the highlights so far has been a 24-hour Mini push with teams pushing a car around the company's office, Trigonof House.

Staff collected sponsorship to be added to the total.

They also held a coffee morning and a Ready Steady Cake competition, judged by French chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli. Staff and directors donned chef hats and aprons in the battle of the best cake.

Graziella Campisano, Swin-don Cancer Appeal manager, is thrilled at the support RWE Npower has given.

She said: "Their commitment is extraordinary. Corporate donations are really important to us.

"They show great commitment to local charities."

The cheque was handed over at Great Western Hospital yesterday.

At the presentation was Miles the Mouse, the official mascot for Macmillan's Miles, where people can run, walk or even belly dance for a mile.

The appeal will be using the extra money to fund two trainee Macmillan nurses to ease pressure on dedicated medical staff at GWH.

The nurses will work between GWH and Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

The hospital will also be given a Macmillan clinical psychologist, specialising in cancer and palliative care.

For information call the Swindon Cancer Appeal office on its new number, 01793 432252 or 432253.