COMPANIES and community groups in Salisbury and the surrounding area are being asked to put forward a netball team for a fundraising tournament in aid of the Stars Appeal Breast Cancer Campaign.

The competition on December 21st is being held at Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury and involves ten minute matches with a grand final of the two best teams on the day.

Organised by Girls Love Fit, the event is from 1pm to 5pm, with all proceeds from the event going towards the appeal.

Manager Jenny Hawker said: “Teams are mixed or can be all ladies or all men – there’s no ability necessary, it’s all going to be taken with a pinch of salt and will be just be about having a fun afternoon to raise money for a good cause.

“We held it for the first time last year for the scanner campaign and this year, we wanted to make it bigger and better.

“As we are all women fitness instructors who live in and around Salisbury, the breast cancer campaign is very close to our hearts.

“A lot of ladies who come to our classes have been affected by breast cancer or know someone who has been affected by it, and they have been cared for really well at the hospital.”

The team of nine instructors is entering their own team to the competition as well as members who attend their classes.

Other companies signed up so far include James Hay, Sarum CrossFit, Spire FM and the Salisbury Journal.

Chafyn Grove is providing the sports hall for free while Alpha & Omega Sports is sponsoring the event. There will be coffees and cakes on sale as well as healthy snacks and a raffle will also be held.

Anyone interested in entering a team is asked to email info@girlslovefit.co.uk by December 14. Entry is £50 per team and teams of ten are recommended.

The Stars Appeal campaign aims to raise £750,000 for a dedicated breast care unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

The unit will enable the hospital to offer faster diagnosis and treatment for patients, with same day diagnosis and state-of-the-art equipment along with purpose-built waiting, diagnostic and treatment rooms, and counselling rooms for women who have just been told they have cancer.

It will also mean patients will no longer need to visit other departments or repeatedly dress and undress for mammograms and scans.

*The Chalke Valley Ladies Choir Concert is next Sunday (December 7) at 3pm. Tickets are £8 and are available from Chalke Valley Stores in Broad Chalke or on the door. All proceeds are going towards the breast cancer campaign. The concert will feature Christmas songs and is at Broad Chalke Village Hall.