WORKERS at a Southampton doctors' surgery are sending out an SOS for sponsorship to help pay for a fundraising exercise in aid of Leukaemia Busters.

Motivated by the Calendar Girls film the four friends, who all work at the Victor Street surgery in Shirley, set about organising an 83-mile sponsored walk along Hadrian's Wall to raise cash for another charity battling leukaemia. The calendar that inspired the film raised money for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Having secured a sponsor to pay for all the overheads, including accommodation and travel expenses, things looked like they were going to plan until the funding was pulled at the last minute.

The women have been forced to stump up £1,000 of their own money so that all the sponsorship they raise will still go to the charity and are appealing for anyone to help contribute to the costs.

Organiser Jane Foster, 49, said: "We have already taken a week of our own holiday to do the walk.

"It was a big disappointment for us when the sponsor pulled out but there is still time if someone else out there wants to help to come forward.

"After seeing the Calendar Girls film we were really motivated to do something ourselves so we have all been in training to complete the walk, which we aim to do in six days. We have all got our individual training schedules but every other weekend we meet up to all go on a walk together."

The group, which also comprises Jane's colleagues Margaret Somerfield, 32, Julie Edmondson, 39, and Wendy Windslade, 38, aims to walk an average of 15 miles a day.

"We are really looking forward to it and we paid the money ourselves because we are so committed to the fundraiser. If anyone is able to help in any way we would really appreciate it," Jane added.

If you are able to help the group, contact 023 8090 4940.