Ashfield In2Focus has donated £15,000 to the Queen's Hospital Scanner Appeal at Burton Hospital. The generous contribution made by the company's Worthy Causes Fund brings the total so far to £250,000, one step closer to the £500,000 target which will enable the hospital to buy a new CT (Computed Tomography) scanner.

Queen's Hospital launched the appeal in September 2009 to raise enough money to replace one of the scanners that is near the end of its useful life. A CT scanner uses X-Rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body. The new scanner will be much faster and will have the ability to produce much better detail meaning that patients can be seen with a quicker and clearer diagnosis.

"We are really pleased to have been able to make such a significant donation to the Queen's Hospital Scanner Appeal," said Chris Corbin, Ashfield In2Focus Managing Director. "Our on-going commitment to charity projects has raised over £200,000 and we are continually striving to support the communities of which we are all a part. The Scanner Appeal is an excellent cause and it is fantastic to see so many people joining together to achieve the £500,000 goal."

The Ashfield In2Focus Worthy Causes Fund was set up in 2005. Every year, the company donates a proportion of its profits - as well as the proceeds from fundraising activities throughout the year - to the fund. This is then used to support our community in a number of different ways including providing schools with new equipment, sponsoring student activities and donating money to worthwhile community projects such as the Queen's Hospital Scanner Appeal.

"We are delighted with the extremely generous donation that Ashfield In2Focus have been able to make towards our Scanner Appeal," said Jim Morrison, Chairman at Queen's Hospital. "We are aiming to reach our target of £500,000 by April 2011 and are working really hard to organise fundraising activities."

So far the appeal has raised over £250,000 through a variety of different events dedicated to the scanner appeal. Events include quiz nights, animated snail racing, comedy nights, bucket collections, party nights, concerts, fashion shows, bag packing at local supermarkets, dress down days for admin staff at the Trust, cake baking sales, charity meals, raffles and tombola's and sponsored events.

For further information please contact Lucy MacLauchlan, Communications Executive on 01530 562372 or lucy.maclauchlan@ashfieldin2focus.com.

 For more information about the Scanner Appeal please visit: http://www.burtonhospitals.nhs.uk/fundraising/