PEOPLE across Salisbury and south Wiltshire are getting behind the Journal-backed campaign to raise £750,000 for a dedicated breast unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

Sports groups, local businesses and individuals are among those who have been organising sponsored events or making donations.

Among them are the Salisbury DIY store, In-Excess, which has opened a dinosaur attraction for visitors while local radio station Spire FM helped raise £9,000 for the campaign by organising a Bring a Pound to Work Day and encouraging local businesses to participate.

Meanwhile hundreds of runners are in preparation for the Tidworth 10k and 3k fun race which takes place on November 2 while this weekend sees others, such as Marie Delargy, taking on the Great South Run.

On Thursday, members of the South Wilts Charity Football Competitions committee presented a cheque for £1,000 to Sonnya Dabill, a specialist breast care nurse at Salisbury District Hospital.

The charity football cup has been going since the early 1920s and the committee donated the proceeds of its latest competition to the campaign.

The South Wilts Charity Football Competitions includes a group of teams from the Wiltshire, Wessex and Western Leagues. Over the years it has raised £44,000 for good causes.

Committee secretary for the competition Richard Nelson said: “There are now five competitions which run most years: the Charity A Cup, the Hospital Cup, the Charity B Cup, the Charity C Cup and the Pete Fardell Cup.”

The Hospital Cup is the most senior cup and this year will see Amesbury Town, Downton, Laverstock and Ford, and Pewsey Vale all competing in early November in round one.

Sarum Youth Seniors and Andover New Street will also be competing in the competition for the first time.

The new dedicated breast unit at Salisbury Hospital will enable patients to receive faster diagnosis and treatment.

If you are organising an event or taking part in a sponsored activity in aid of the breast cancer unit campaign email elizabeth.kemble@salisburyjournal.co.uk

* The annual pre-Christmas shopping fair – the Rockbourne Fair - is at Salisbury Racecourse from Wednesday to Friday.

The opening times are: Wednesday, 10am-5pm, Thursday, 10am-7.30pm, Friday, 10am-3.30pm. There's free parking and entry is £5 (£3 after 4pm on Thursday).