Ref. 28117-21SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: SHOPPERS were treated to the festive strains of Ruskin Junior School Choir as Swindon mayor Derek Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) lit up the Swindon Cancer Appeal's Tree of Thought at the Great Western Designer Outlet Village.

Coun Benfield and his wife Pam began the countdown before the tree lights sparkled.

To date £1,500 has been raised by friends, family and colleagues of cancer victims pledging money to the Tree of Light. For a minimum of £5 they were able to sponsor a light on the Christmas tree in their memory.

And the Swindon Cancer Appeal, which was launched by the Evening Advertiser in March and aims to raise £600,000 over three years to fund two Macmillan nurses at the Great Western Hospital, has so far raised more than £200,000.

Coun Benfield said: "The money raised is all down to the kind-hearted generosity of the people of Swindon. You get a living from what you earn, but you get a life from what you give and I want to say thank you to everyone who has given so generously."

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.