SUPPORTERS have run dressed as Santas, crawled through mud and shaved their heads - all in support of the Cancer Centre Campaign.

The money raised, along with donations, has already topped £1 million - but more money is still needed to reach the target.

A calendar of events has been drawn up to raise another £1 million within a year.

The first is on May 12 which is International Nurses Day. The day is celebrated around the work on what was Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nurses will be holding a tea party to raise money and anyone who would like an event pack is asked to contact CoHoC.

The Colchester Starlight Walk will be held on Saturday June 24 to raise money for the centre. The walk, which is now in its ninth year, sees hundreds of people complete a ten mile walk.

A 10k run and 3k fun run will be held on July 2 in Nayland and the Ipswich to Amsterdam bike ride at the beginning of September will go via Colchester General Hospital.

And on September 3, there will be a Superstars Abseil. Fundraisers will abseil down Colchester Town Hall dressed as their favourite screen or comic character to raise money for the Cancer Centre Campaign.

On September 9, Mersea Island Sprint Triathlon will feature a 750m sea swim, a 20k bike ride and a 5k run.

Then on December 10, hundreds of joggers dressed as Santas, will fill Colchester Castle Park as they take part in the Santa Fun Run.

A Big Sea Dip will be held in February which is also Make a Will Month. A number of solicitors are giving their time free in return for a donation to the Cancer Centre Campaign.

Caroline Bates, head of charity and fundraising with Colchester Hospsitals Charity, said: “We are looking for people to take part in or organise events and to join our fundraising groups in areas across Tendring and Colchester. If you would like to know if there is a group in your area or would like to start one please get in touch with the fundraising office.”

To get in touch with CoHoC, email fundraising@colchesterhospital.nhs.uk, call 01206 475303 or go to http://www.cohoc.org.uk/campaign.

n THE Gazette is supporting the Cancer Centre Campaign. If you are fundraising for the appeal, we would like to hear from you and can help to publicise your event. Email us gazette.newsdesk@nqe,com or donate directly by texting Gaze11 £10 to 70070 - or whatever amount you choose.