STUDENTS sold cakes, made music videos and even ‘pied the prefects’ to raise money for Musgrove Park Hospital during RAG (Raising and Giving) week.

Taunton School students have raised £1,000 for the hospital’s Love Musgrove campaign which aims to raise £1m for a new MRI scanner.

Love Musgrove was chosen as the worthy recipient by the student-led charity committee at Taunton School, especially because of its local connections.

School Chaplain Reverend Dietz said: “I am delighted that we managed to achieve the £1,000 target for such an important cause. It was great that our international and local students threw themselves into the charitable activities during a highly successful RAG week.”

Over £6,000 was raised during RAG week, which is shared amongst the school’s chosen charities.

The two existing MRI scanners at Musgrove Park Hospital are at full capacity and the hospital urgently needs a new scanner to continue to offer the best possible support to patients who need it the most.

An additional scanner will help provide care to patients who may have breast cancer, neurological conditions, cardiac problems, tumours, spinal injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Without it patients with serious illnesses may face a longer wait before diagnosis or have to travel to other parts of the country.

Liz Ladd, head of imaging at Musgrove Park Hospital, said: “We’re on track to raise enough money for a third MRI scanner at the hospital, but we still need that extra push to get us to the £1m."