OKEHAMPTON'S New Hospital Appeal is to receive the largest donation so far from the EX20 Lottery community fund.
The £250,000 appeal, which will pay for new equipment for the hospital, has been donated £1,612 from the lottery and is the seventh cause to benefit from the scheme instigated by Okehampton Mayor Christine Marsh.
The aim is to contribute £5,000 to the hospital appeal by the time the new facility opens in November next year.
Appeal administrator Nigel Percival said was a wonderful start to what the appeal committee hoped would be a tremendous year of giving towards the new hospital.
'It is a wonderful gesture from the community for their hospital,' he said. 'The EX20 lottery is a fantastic idea and holds such promise for the future of Okehampton.'
Since its inception six months ago EX20 Lottery has also helped the Okehampton Scouts, South Zeal Scouts, the Army Cadet Force, Hatherleigh Pre-School Playgroup, Ockment Centre and the Devon Air Ambulance. Okehampton Table Tennis Club are also due to receive a cheque for £700.
A total of £4,216 has been donated to worthy local causes and £3,585 has been given away in prize money.
The community fund from the weekly lottery draw gives to projects in the area which promote healthy living such as the hospital, sport and leisure activities.
Community groups can also apply for money from the bonus draws, of which there are several a year.
Christine Marsh said she was delighted with what the lottery had achieved in six months but was hoping to increase the number of players and agents selling tickets over the next year.
'At the moment we have just over 400 players but would to get that up to 1,000,' she said. 'The more people we have, the more we can help the community and the bigger the prize money.
'It is brilliant to be able to present this money to the hospital — it shows people's commitment to it and makes all the hard work worth while.'
Mrs Marsh said she would like to see more residents from the villages around Okehampton play the lottery because the money was being used across the whole area.
'We give to community groups all across the EX20 postcode area and the major projects like the hospital will benefit everyone,' she said.
Village shops and post offices around the Okehampton area are being sought to sell lottery tickets, which will also be on sale at Okehampton farmers' markets in the Charter Hall every month.
Present agents for the lottery are Okehampton Newsagents, The Pet Shop in Station Road, the Ockment Centre, the White Hart Hotel (Okehampton) and Meeth Post Office.