A bird-like crop circle which has appeared in a wheat field on a Broad Hinton farm is being used to raise money for GWH’s Brighter Futures’ £2.9m Radiotherapy Appeal. The field was supposed to have been harvested on today (Tuesday, August 23)…will rain intervene and leave the circle a bit longer?
Adults have been asked to donate £3 to view the huge crop formation at Weir Farm, Broad Hinton, with all proceeds going to helping bring radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients to Great Western Hospital (GWH).
The appeal aims to end the long, daily journeys cancer patients – including many from the Marlborough area – have to make to Churchill Hospital in Oxford for up to seven weeks of radiotherapy treatment.
GWH and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust are working together to bring a unit to Swindon and, subject to national approval, treatment should be available in 2017.
Farmer James Hussey has teamed up with long-time crop circle researcher Paul Jacobs, who is temporarily living by the circle in a camper van, which doubles up as crop circle information centre.
Mr Hussey, 57, who lost his wife Gill to cancer last year, said the crop circle’s location – close to the Ridgeway at Uffcott Down near Barbury Castle – had helped attract interested walkers, raising more than £5,000.
Mr Hussey, whose family have owned Weir Farm for 108 years said: “The crop formation just appeared one day and I’ve no idea why or how. The event appears to be an absolute mystery.”
“What is absolutely fantastic is that around 1,600 people have seen it so far and have learned about the Radiotherapy Appeal. I know first-hand how important it is to have radiotherapy treatment locally – it’s going to happen and I am enthused by Brighter Futures’ fundraising appeal.
Hackpen Hill 10km Trail The farm is staging the Hackpen Hill 10km Trail Run/Walk on Saturday 13 September, again in aid of the Radiotherapy Appeal and in memory of Gill Hussey. The off-road trail goes through an area of outstanding natural beauty offers uninterrupted views of the Ridgeway and Barbury Castle. It is £10 to enter and it begins at 10.30am. Email hackpen10k@gmail.com for more information. You can sign up here for the event .
Donations to the radiotherapy appeal fund can be made : by text – just text SWIN29 followed by your donation of £5 or £10 to 70070
Or through the Brighter Futures website or via Justgiving http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/greatwestern/radiotherapy
and via Virgin Money http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/gwh/radiotherapy
Cheques should be made payable to ‘Brighter Futures’ and sent to The Fundraising Team, Brighter Futures, The Brunel Treatment Centre, The Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road Swindon SN3 6BB. Readers can contact Brighter Futures on 01793 605631
