SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Swindonians have shown the Swindon Cancer Appeal the colour of their money and - as we have come to expect from our generous townsfolk - it's golden.

We are now a third of the way to reaching our target of £600,000 to help Macmillan Cancer Relief after only eight months.

Young and old have organised sponsored walks, runs, cycles, climbs, discos, dances and swims.

Others have baked cakes, brewed tea, ground coffee, dressed up and down, and even stripped off completely.

Nationwide Building Society set us off to a flying start in March with a £80,000 donation.

Employees at the Swindon-based finance giant in Pipers Way were fundraising with gusto over the last four years.

Staff donned swimming hats for a sponsored swimathon, rabbit ears for a day of silence and sat back and relaxed during a bonanza coffee morning.

Meanwhile tennis fans took part in a mixed doubles tournament and barbecue. Members of Ramsbury Tennis Club, in Hilldrop Lane, Marlborough, served up a few aces and the odd hamburger in the summer to raise £1,500.

In July, staff at Motorola celebrated the company's 75th birthday with a family fun day and raised almost £9,000 for the appeal. Firms including Bob Cole Group Travel and The Village Hotel in South Marston helped organise the day, and gave raffle prizes and donations.

Last month Swindon's Health Hydro was packed full of swimmers eager to test their fundraising strokes.

Swindon Amateur Swimming Club (SASC) organised the event for 70 participants, some as young as five years old their efforts raised £2,000.

And many people have helped simply by making donations using the coupons in the Evening Advertiser.

So far, we have received £12,149 in individual donations.

Alex Emery

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

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.