Rockbourne Fair opens with aim of helping Stars Appeal £1m quest
The three-day event is at Salisbury Racecourse until Friday afternoon.
Last updated 16th Oct 2024
A shopping event in Salisbury is hoping to raise vital funds to help the Stars Appeal reach it's £1million target.
This years Rockbourne Fair, held at Salisbury Racecourse, has welcomed hundreds of shoppers, with money from the event going to the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital's charity.
The three-day event features over 100 stalls with unique items on offer as well as a new-for-this-year lunch menu in the recently renovated on-site restaurant.
Money raised will help the Stars Appeal towards it's annual fundraising target of £1million.
Sarah Ewen is on the organising committee and says the event helps make a massive difference at the hospital.
"In the past it's raised money big items like the MRI scanner, the Breast Unit and also does things like hospital chaplaincy, support for patients with cancer, the Stars Appeal play assistant on the Sarum Children's ward and the Wi-Fi for all the patients and staff.
Anna Aertssen is an consultant on the Breast Unit and told us that the unit, which wouldn't have been possible through the NHS, has benefitted thousands of people.
She said: "Nine years ago we approached the Stars Appeal and said we would like a dedicated breast unit. At the time, our service clinics were very disjointed and very hectic because patients had to get undressed and dressed several times.
"The realisation of a wonderful breast unit has made a huge difference. Four and a half to five thousand patients come through our service and their pathway through the service is smooth.
"It's considerably quicker and so much nicer in an already stressful time."
Hazel Jackson is a Senior Sister on the Odstock ward and said the funding of critical services at the hospital helps make life more pleasant for patients and staff.
She said: "We also have real positive impact from the stars appeal from things like providing the water coolers on the ward. So we've got cold water to drink the Wi-Fi, which of course the patient shoes, but actually it is really useful for staff on their own break times to have access to that as well.
"It makes life better for the patients, their families, their visitors, which of course ultimately makes it better for the staff that are working there as well, because we can see that how much more positive the impact is for them."
The fair is open until 5:30pm on Wednesday (16th October), from 10am - 7:30pm on Thursday (17th October) and 3pm on Friday (18th October).
Entry costs £6.