THEY are three-quarters of the way there.

Generous fundraisers have now helped raise more than £30,000 for youngsters and their families fighting cancer in Southampton .

It means we are within touching distance of achieving our mission to fund care and support for ten families facing a long battle against cancer.

What pushed the Daily Echo’s Every Step Appeal through the £30,000 barrier was a golf day organised by determined duo Madeleine George and Jane Tandy.

The event, held at the Royal Winchester Golf Club, raised an amazing £7,500 for the CLIC Sargent appeal – leaving it just £7,000 away from its £40,000 target.

The rain stayed away for the event that saw 25 teams take to the green for a day of golf, before comedian Ager Brown got fundraisers digging deep for the charity auction.

Madeleine and Jane are committee members of the CLIC Haven home from home, which offers accommodation for families going through treatment at Southampton General Hospital. They have seen firsthand how vital the charity’s support can be for parents and their youngsters and they worked tirelessly to make the event a success. Madeleine said: “CLIC Sargent is such a great charity because everybody feels sorry for the child that has cancer, but the charity also cares for and supports the parents and siblings, who are also going through it and that is really important.

“It was a great day, there was an amazing atmosphere and more importantly we raised a lot of money for a good charity.

“Jane and I have had to work hard for this event because people just haven’t got a lot of money at the moment, but it has all been worth it.”

So far fundraisers have hosted plant sales, plunged through the sky from a plane and abseiled down the side of Southampton General Hospital to help us reach our £40,000 target.

Now we just need that final push to ensure CLIC Sargent’s team are able to offer vital emotional, practical and financial support to those families who lives have been turned upside down with a devastating cancer diagnosis.

Tim Holley, a trustee of CLIC Sargent, said: “The golf was a huge success and it was great to see everyone getting behind this appeal.

“So far support for the Every Step Appeal has been fantastic and we are grateful for everyone’s generosity, but we still have a little way to go yet and it would be great to smash that £40,000 target.”

  • You can donate online at virginmoneygiving.com/everystepappeal
  • You can text CLIC 02 £Your Amount to 70070
  • You can send a cheque made payable to CLIC Sargent, to Chantelle Hornsby (Every Step Appeal), 90 Shirley High Street, Southampton, SO16 4FB.