A WORLD-renowned surgeon and the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane were among those to take part in an inaugural walk to raise money for a charity campaign.

Members of RadCan set up to raise funds for a radiotherapy facility at Basingstoke hospital, hosted a five-kilometre walk around Basingstoke’s War Memorial Park last Sunday morning.

Dozens of residents donned walking boots and raised sponsorship money for the cause, and the organisers were delighted with the turnout.

RadCan vice-chair Jo Kelly said: “This is a new event to raise awareness and money for the charity. We are grateful to everyone who came along.”

Surgeon Merv Rees, divisional medical director of the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is among those leading the campaign for the landmark facility.

He told The Gazette: “I think that Basingstoke has needed a radiotherapy centre for the 28 years I have been here. We have talked about it but there is now a realisation that this must happen.

“What is so special about the team at RadCan is that they are nearly all women who are closely related to people who have had radiotherapy, and they know that having to travel to Southampton to get treatment is not nice.”

The walk was started by borough mayor Councillor Martin Biermann who – like his predessor Cllr David Leeks – is raising money for RadCan as one of his mayoral charities throughout his year in office.

Cllr Biermann said: “This is a particularly well-loved charity, and I hope the outcome from this walk is profitable for them. It’s also good to see people getting together and doing something both healthy and enjoyable.”

Sponsored by The Southern Cooperative, the event was marshalled by Basingstoke Army Cadets.