THE News Group's Big Push Campaign is proving a roaring success - just weeks after it was launched.

Fundraising group The Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions have become the latest community organisation to buy a brand new wheelchair for Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley as part of our drive to raise £30,000 to fund 50 new state-of-the-art chairs for use by patients and frail visitors.

And thanks to the generous donation of £600 - the campaign, which we are running in partnership with the Dudley Group NHS Charity, has now topped £8,000.

Karen Rice, spokesman for the Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions Club, said: "When we read about the wheelchair campaign we felt it was something we could help out with as we always try to support local charities and people."

The donation from the Lions comes thick and fast after Dudley Zoo bosses took along mascot Jambi the tiger to test out the chair they have recently sponsored.

Karen Phillips, fundraising manager for the Dudley Group NHS Charity, said she's delighted at how the community has embraced the campaign and it's not the first time the Lions have generously supported the hospital.

Last year the dedicated members donated an Accuvein machine to Russells Hall after a year-long fundraising campaign to buy the state-of-the-art machine.

Karen said: “It was good to meet up again with Kate Parkes and Mike Blaxland from the Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions. They are regular supporters of the hospital charity and we are so grateful to them for sponsoring a wheelchair.”

There's still a way to go yet though before we reach our £30,000 target.

You can help us by texting NEWS66 and an amount of £2, £5 or £10 to 70070.

Donations can also be made online via www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/dghc/wheelchairs or by calling into our offices at St John’s House, Stourbridge, with cash or cheques (payable to Dudley Group NHS Charity/Wheelchairs).