A regional daily’s fundraising mission for a new cancer centre has surpassed the £1m mark.

Just over two years ago the Cambridge News launched an appeal for a new specialist unit at the city’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital for teenagers and young adults.

Through continued campaigning and readers’ donations the Iliffe-owned title has secured £1m towards the overall target of £2.5m, the remainder of which will be raised by the Teenager Cancer Trust charity.

Work on the new unit at Addenbrooke’s has just started with a target completion date of next December, enabling cancer sufferers aged 13 to 24 from across East Anglia to receive treatment.

Colin Grant, group editor-in chief and a trustee of the company’s Press Relief community fund charity which also backed the appeal, said: “When the News launched the appeal two years ago it was the most ambitious fundraising campaign we had undertaken.

“Since then, the response from our readers and the community at large has been overwhelming and we are delighted to be able to announce that the target has been reached in just two years.

“Most importantly, it is money that is vital to the building of the specialist unit for youngsters suffering from cancer in our region and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed.”

News editor Paul Brackley said: “It is thanks to the tremendous generosity of our readers that the appeal has hit this fantastic target.

“We have been delighted to run this campaign and will continue to offer our backing to this cause.”

The News said the appeal had won a bedrock of support from its patch and enjoyed a few celebrity endorsements, including from lead singer with The Who Roger Daltrey, also a TCT patron, and McFly drummer Harry Judd.

TCT chief executive Simon Davies added: “In these difficult economic times, it is wonderful to celebrate raising £1m towards the cost of the new Teenage Cancer Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Cambridge News and Press Relief who have provided the bedrock for our appeal and who have supported and encouraged all the fundraising efforts in the Cambridgeshire area.”