The Ace of Hearts appeal tops the £1,000,000 mark as Charlene Wright (left) presents a cheque for £380, in memory of her grandfather Michael Coughlan, to Share fundraising director Carol Taylor and powerlifting champion Bill West receives a cheque for £873 from Notty Ash, of the Quidhampton Mummers, at the White Horse in Quidhampton. Picture by ROGER ELLIOTT DA5811"THANKS a million" was the message from jubilant hospital fundraisers this week as the Ace of Hearts Appeal smashed through its target figure.

The £1m needed for a new cardiac unit at Salisbury District Hospital was finally reached with the help of the Journal High Post Corporate Golf Challenge, which raised £10,400.

And there were other late boosts for the appeal at a presentation ceremony at the White Horse in Quidhampton last Thursday night, when the Quidhampton Mummers handed over a cheque for £873 and villager Jackie Dutfield and her daughter Charlene Wright presented a cheque for £380 in memory of Jackie's father.

The cheques were received on behalf of the fund by Salisbury's world powerlifting champion Bill West - who officially launched the appeal for Salisbury District Hospital charity Share back in April last year - and Share fundraising director Carol Taylor.

Jackie Dutfield's contribution, presented on behalf of her family, was particularly poignant, as her father Michael Coughlan (73) died from a heart attack.

He was a betting man and, following his death, his family found £160 in his wallet, which they decided to wager on a horse racing in Salisbury. The mount, called Well Known, romped in first, landing them the £380, which they promptly donated to the Ace of Hearts appeal.

"We were all tickled pink and dad would have been, too," said Jackie. "He would have been especially pleased to see the money going to such a good cause."

Today, the Salisbury Lions Club will hand over £1,500 it raised for the appeal from its Lucknow Band concert at the City Hall in February.

It is thanks to donations such as these and countless fundraising activities over the past 14 months that Salisbury will now get the cardiac suite it so badly needs.

District hospital chairman David Noble led the chorus of thanks to the hundreds of local people and organisations who have helped out.

"The success of the appeal is due entirely to the efforts of the local community, who have consistently given up their time and money," he said.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Share volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to support this appeal. "

The £1m raised by the appeal will pay for the capital costs of the cardiac suite, which will be housed within the north wing of the hospital. It is hoped building work will begin later in the summer.

The NHS has agreed to match the funds by providing a further £1m over ten years towards running costs.

Mr Noble said: "When the suite is built, it will house sophisticated digital X-ray equipment, an examination room, a purpose-built relaxation and recovery room and a video-conferencing system that will link cardiac specialists in Salisbury with their colleagues in Southampton.

"The suite will also mean that adults needing cardiac investigations will be able to get this at Salisbury District Hospital and in a much shorter time-frame than at present."

Meanwhile, Ace of Hearts fundraisers are urging people to support forthcoming events for the appeal, as pledges from these are included in the £1m.