Support for the Bradford Millennium Scanner Appeal has been fantastic. So much has been raised so quickly. With more than £800,000 already in the kitty, there is only £200,000 to go to reach the grand total of £1 million.

A fair slice of the credit must go to Sovereign Health Care, which has given more than £275,000. But the success of the appeal has also depended on the enthusiastic support and generosity of many local groups and countless individuals.

Bradford people never fail to rise to the occasion. Present them with a challenge in the interests of a worthwhile cause, and they rise to it. It happens time and again. This is not a wealthy city and Yorkshire people have a reputation for meanness, but Bradfordians somehow have the knack of prising cash out of each other's pockets and purses when confronted with an appeal target.

That special skill will be needed as much as ever in the weeks ahead. The appeal needs one last enthusiastic shove to reach that magic million. It would be wonderful if we could make it by Christmas.

We could get there more easily, though, if more companies would come forward to sponsor the appeal. Some local firms have been very generous, but others have been slow to put their hands in their corporate pockets.

Companies have employees who at some time might well need to pass through the scanner. It would be a sound investment in those employees and their families if some of the big players could bring themselves to chip in and round off the appeal with style.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.