A fundraising group has reached its £20,000 target towards a new world-class cancer centre at Colchester Hospital.

Coggeshall Fundraising Group began its money-raising efforts in April and has now amassed more than £20,000.

The group held a variety of events in a bid to see the new Cancer Centre at Colchester Hospital built.

The hospital’s mission is to provide a integrated centre above its radiotherapy centre, with enough room for loved ones to wait with patients while they have treatment.

It would mean radiotherapy, chemotherapy and medical treatments are all in one place and could offer complementary therapies, information, support and advice.

Fundraiser Julie Standen said: “It’s really exciting.

“The reason it’s so important is because at the moment in Colchester conditions are very cramped.

“You have people who are spending a lot of time there, up to eight hours a day, they are in chairs next to people who are an arm’s length away.

“They might be having their last treatment, but be sat next to someone who is there for palliative care and that’s very hard for someone to deal with.

“The staff are amazing, they work long hours to make sure everyone gets their treatment.”

The group has held walks along Essex Way, quizzes, concerts and even had taxi fees donated.

Mrs Standen will be shaving her hair off in the coming weeks, with a date to be confirmed.

She said: “I don’t mind, I feel lucky I have a choice to do that. I have friends and family who didn’t and it’s very difficult.

“It’s not just your hair that falls out, it goes everywhere – your eyelashes and even your fingernails.

“We still have a quiz and a family fun night planned.

“It is very much a community effort.”

The new plans provide chemotherapy and haematology on one floor above the radiotherapy department with wellness services and counselling rooms on the ground floor, next to radiotherapy.

Combining totals from other fundraising groups, £2.5 million has been raised out of a £3,25 million target towards the new centre.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Coggeshallbeatingcancer.