Classic car run in South Wiltshire raises £13,000 for Stars Appeal

The Boys’ Treasured Toys event had record numbers this year

A classic and modern car driving through South Wiltshire has raised more than £13,000 for the Stars Appeal at Salisbury District Hospital.

16\0 people in 75 cars parked up at the latest Boys’ Treasured Toys event – in vehicles from Mini to McLaren and Bentley to Bugatti.

The seventh edition has been described as “the most successful” yet, with the cars forming up at Wilton House ahead of a 100-mile journey.

Drivers and passengers donated to take part in the road race, organized by Louise Hall, Matthew Pickford and Nick Combes.

Lead organizer and Stars Appeal Fundraising Committee member Louise Hall said:

“A fun day was had by all, it was a most enjoyable and relaxed day in amazingly beautiful locations. This was our most successful event, both in terms of the number of guests and money raised.

“People have been so incredibly generous and have been seriously moved by the heartwarming stories they have heard from ambassadors Mr Dennis and Colin Ford, who both expressed how every pound raised makes a difference to patients, their families and staff the hospital. I would like to thank everyone involved in making the event such a success.”

ENT Consultant and Stars Appeal Ambassador, Mr Simon Dennis spoke to the participants before they set off and said:

“Every day in my work I see the incredible difference that the money raised at events like this makes to the patients at the Hospital.

“I would like to thank Louise, her co-organisers and all the participants and hosts for raising this wonderful amount which will help our charity do even more for the local people at the hospital.”

The money raised will go towards the £1 million Stars Appeal aims to raise this year, for services and equipment above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

It will go into projects such as getting six high-definition video scopes to help diagnose head and neck cancer more quickly, costing £115,000; and £50,000 to provide 36 ‘next to you’ sleeper chairs so that vulnerable and end-of-life patients can have a loved one sit next to them in comfort.

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