A campaign to raise £714,000 to create a resource centre for people with life-limiting illnesses has been given a £20,000 boost thanks to the generosity of local fundraisers.

The Patrick Stead League of Friends pledged the money to Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF) at its AGM last week. It takes the total raised so far towards the Information and Support Centre (ISC) – which will offer a range of services to people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses – to £437,561.

Karen Kerridge, chair of the Friends, said: 'This is an exciting and innovative project. The ISC will be a huge asset to Halesworth, offering support and counselling to those that have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, as well as their family and friends – all at a time when people may be in shock and don't know where to turn for advice and support.

'It will benefit not only residents of Halesworth, but people who live in a 15 mile radius. It is all down to a team of highly motivated individuals who voluntarily dedicate their time to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.

'It is exactly the sort of project that the League of Friends should be supporting and we are very pleased to be able to do so.'

The ISC aims to bring a full range of holistic services closer to home for people in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk. This includes benefits advice, wig-fitting, children and family support, complementary therapies, help understanding a diagnosis, counselling and bereavement support.

Ted Edwards, ISC chairman, said: 'We are absolutely delighted that the Friends have decided to support our project with this fantastic £20,000 donation. Their generosity takes the total raised to date to just over 61pc of our total, which is excellent news and has brought our vision of creating the ISC one step closer.

'Our thanks go to everyone for their amazing support so far, which we hope will continue during 2015 so that work can begin on creating this fantastic resource for our community.'

For more information about the ISC project, or to make a donation, visit www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre