HAREFIELD Hospital is tantalisingly close to affording its long sought-after MRI scanner.

The world famous hospital, in Hill End Road, hopes one last fundraising push will help it gather the £400,000 it needs to buy the vital equipment.

It began the scanner fund, which costs £1.5million and is not funded by the Department of Health, in 2007 .

MRI scanners can be used to create images of the heart and a machine could prove vital when treating the hundreds of heart patients who are referred to the unit from across the south of England.

For now, Harefield’s patients have to travel to the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, for a scan – but some are too ill to make the journey.

The five-year campaign has drawn support from around the village, with fancy dress events, collections and concerts among the fundraising fun.

The annual fun run, which begins and ends in the hospital grounds, is one of the biggest moneyraisers and organisers hope this year will follow suit.

The fun run on September 2 includes a one-mile and three-and-a-half mile course, a family fun day, an all day barbecue, arts and craft stalls, kiddies entertainment, and raffle and auction.

Desiree Zimmerman, from the hospital’s fundraising team, said: “We are truly grateful for all the support the local community has given the hospital over the years to make this event an enjoyable day out for the whole family.

“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have raised just over £1.1 million towards our MRI Scanner Appeal and we look forward to welcoming the crowds to bring us even closer to our target.”

Go to www.rbhcharity.org for more information on the fun run.