THE ORGANISER of this year’s Relay for Life at Ascot Racecourse is urging supporters to donate as much as they can in one last push before the deadline later this month.

According to Rose Dalton, who heads up the annual campaign, the tally so far stands at about £850,000 with money still pouring in every hour.

Ms Dalton, who recently turned 70, is also overjoyed that the event won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year for its efforts.

She said: “We are well on our way to £1 million and raising £850,000 is an incredible thing to do in our ninth year.

“It will probably be a bit more by the time we close the books.”

For her, a highlight of this year’s relay was the opening ceremony, which featured local cancer survivors doing the first lap of honour around the racecourse accompanied by the Reading Scottish Pipe Band.

She added: “It brings a lot of inspiration to the opening lap, with survivors following the pipe band and everyone cheering them on.

“It gives the walkers a reason why they are there for the 24 hours.

“The survivors are what it is about. It is about more people surviving cancer.”

The Ascot stalwart also found the final lap of the event extremely emotional, which symbolises the achievement made.

“That is when the initial tally is announced. It actually has saved lives, that is what the walking has done,” she continued.

“Research is the most powerful tool we have against the disease of cancer, so the more money that goes towards research, the more people survive it.”

Ms Dalton believes the most remarkable thing about the Relay for Life is the community spirit that builds up around it.

She said: “For such a small community in Ascot to have raised such a large sum of money is nothing short of phenomenal.”

The campaigner hopes supporters will still be donating right up to the cut-off date of August 22.

“We keep reminding people on Facebook to respond,” she added.

“Some are being match funded by their employers as well.”

Whether or not Relay for Life raises £1 million this year, Ms Dalton is determined to accomplish the feat next year in time for the campaign’s 10th anniversary.

She said: “£1 million in the 10th year would be my absolute dream.”

To donate online to Relay for Life go to http://relay.cancerresearchuk.org/site/TR?fr_id=1563&pg=entry.

The final 2016 total will be announced at a special wrap party at Ascot Racecourse on September 24.