Today, the High Sheriff of Somerset, John Cullum, launched the High Sheriff’s Challenge to support of The Forever Friends Appeal Gamma-CT Scanner Campaign.

John said “I am very pleased to launch this challenge in the name of the High Sheriff and that of a former High Sheriff, David Medlock, who has pledged £200,000 from his charitable trust to match fund donations to the Campaign.

“I am asking for your support, with my other hat as the Chairman of the Forever Friends Appeal, to help us raise £200,000 which will be matched £1 for £1.  This will enable us to purchase the latest and most high tech Gamma-CT Scanner, which helps in the diagnosis of certain types of cancers, as well as identifying cardiac and neurological diseases.

“We want this piece of equipment in place as soon as possible” added John “Any funds raised will be matched and with us all doing our ‘bit’, we will soon be there.

“Part of my role as High Sheriff is to ‘take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector’.  This has always been my philosophy, but never more so than now.  I am often asked what is involved in being a High Sheriff – the answer is to lend encouragement to the public sector on the one hand and support the Lord Lieutenant on the other as well as helping the Judiciary, Police and other law enforcement agencies.

“I have been amazed and impressed by what has been achieved in the voluntary sector, none more so than with Andrea Peters who is running the Bath Half Marathon and following a few weeks later with the London Marathon!  That really is going the extra mile!”

Andrea Peters, Deputy Payroll Manager at the RUH comments: “I have been a supporter of the Appeal for many years now having had children in the old Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and have close friends and family touched by cancer. I was so pleased when my application to run the London Marathon with the Appeal’s one Silver Bond place was accepted, and knowing that my funds raised will be matched £1 for £1 is like the icing on the cake!”

Andrea be running the Bath Half Marathon as part of her training to run 26 miles on 22^nd April 2012, if you would like to support her please visit www.justgiving.com/andrea-london2012.

John concluded  “I do hope you will take up the High Sheriff’s Challenge, not all of you will be able to run like Andrea, but there are lots of other things you can do, take part in one of the Forever Friends Appeal events, organise one of your own, get a collection tin for your workplace.  Remember every donation is match funded and if your company match-fund you – then the challenge will double the whole donation.  Finally if you do not want to organise anything, please consider making a contribution using the donation form below”.