SHOPPERS stopped by to celebrate the launch of a new campaign aiming to raise money for a very worthy cause.

Thames Hospice opened its Raise the Roof initiative on September 11 in The Lexicon shopping centre.

Bracknell Forest Mayor Cllr Pauline McKenzie as on hand to help with the opening of the fundraising scheme.

Hannah Bartle, marketing assistant at Thames Hospice, said: "We were thrilled to receive such wonderful support from our community of Bracknell to help us launch our Raise the Roof fundraising appeal.

"We were delighted that the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Pauline McKenzie, was able to join us, together with Thames Hospice staff, volunteers and our beneficiaries Carol and Stevie.

"Thanks to everyone who donated, shopped with us and joined in our celebrations to Raise the Roof on our new hospice.”

The charity launched its most "ambitious" public fundraising appeal yet to help raise £3 million to complete the build of a new state-of-the-art hospice for the community.

The Bracknell celebration is one of a few towns taking part in the fundraising event, where the likes of Sue Holderness and Tim Brooke-Taylor and Ross Kemp will be launching the campaign in Maidenhead and Wokingham.

Shoppers were also looking forward to seeing CBBC star Dani Harmer, but had to pull out last minute to look after her daughter.

Thames Hospice is raising money to help families get the specialist care they need by opening a new space to keep up with demand.

Construction has already started on the new £22 million hospice in Bray Lake, which will provide urgent hospice care and support to even more families.