YOU'VE done it!Today, The Evening Star appeal to raise £22,000 for a life-saving cardiac ultrasound machine for Ipswich Hospital has hit its target.It is a fantastic achievement by our loyal readers and supporters, wrapped up with a massive cheque for £9,500 from the League of Friends at Ipswich Hospital.

YOU'VE done it!

Today, The Evening Star appeal to raise £22,000 for a life-saving cardiac ultrasound machine for Ipswich Hospital has hit its target.

It is a fantastic achievement by our loyal readers and supporters, wrapped up with a massive cheque for £9,500 from the League of Friends at Ipswich Hospital.

The organisation is drawing to a close this month after 50 years and has kindly chosen to give its remaining kitty to finish the appeal.

Now we will be able to buy the state-of-the-art machine, set to help around 1,000 people every year at the Heath Road hospital's accident and emergency department.

David Lewis, an Ipswich Hospital consultant who specialises in emergency medicine, said: “This machine will be a fantastic advance for the way we are able to deal with patients with emergency cardiac problems.

“The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson centre is taking shape and we are due to move in this December and this machine will be in our resuscitation room.

“We are aiming to be a major centre of emergency care for the region and this piece of equipment is the first of many we shall need.

“I'd like to thank everybody who has supported the appeal.”

Patricia Salisbury, chairwoman of the league of friends group, said: “Over the years since we started in 1957 we have raised nearly £750,000 for equipment for the hospital.

“This donation would have gone to the hospital in some form or another, but we didn't know where to use it and then Lifesaver came to our attention.

“We wanted to use it where it would be useful to the most people, and we believe this is it.

“It will benefit many, many people and we are glad to help.”

Star editor Nigel Pickover said: “Once again our readers have been fantastic.

“Every year and every appeal they show their loyalty to the community by raising amazing amounts of money.

“We believe the cardiac machine is going to save lives and we are delighted to be able to help Ipswich Hospital.”

The cardiac ultrasound quickly helps doctors diagnose acute cardiac conditions, including heart failure.

Currently, the hospital relies on older technology such as x-rays. It has other ultrasound machines in the radiology department but often A&E patients need a scan immediately and the new machine will be on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The machine can also do other ultrasound scans besides those for the heart.

The Lifesaver appeal was launched in November and has attracted support all sections of the community.

Yesterday, we reported how a mystery brown bag had been posted anonymously at the Star offices in Lower Brook Street with £2,300 inside.

Every donation, large or small, will help to make a huge difference to thousands of patients in the years to come.

Here are some of the big donations that have helped us to achieve our total.

N Businessman Ray Sallows from Maxwell Wallace Homes kick-started the appeal with a £1,000 donation.

N The East of England Co-operative Society then added £1,000 to the pot and started its 977 dividend number in aid of the appeal.

N At Christmas, the Star's annual carol service raised £788 and £706 was collected at the Christmas tree on the Cornhill.

N Staff from the Ipswich Royal Mail office donated £500 raised by playing pool.

N Felixstowe firm Trader Shipping chose Lifesaver as one of its Christmas charities and gave £500.

N The Lions Club of Ipswich pledged to donate ten per cent - £2,200.

N Youngsters at Sprites Primary School in Ipswich raised £214 at its three Christmas shows.

N The Ipswich Hatfield Congregational Church Friendship Club got together to raise £125.

N Ipswich company Call Connections handed over a cheque for £1204.

N Friends Betty Wood, Rachael Townshend and Beverley Nichols , from Sproughton, raised an amazing £100 at a village sale.

N The family of disabled former speedway rider Lawrence Hare collected £430 when his father John and uncle Graham Thurkettle celebrated their 65th birthdays.

N The sale of artwork designed for the cover of a charity CD, in aid of Lifesaver and Children in Need, raised £500.

N A mystery bag of £2,300 in cash was left anonymously at the Star offices earlier this week

N The appeal was wrapped up with a whopping £9,500 cheque from the League of Friends at Ipswich Hospital.