Danielle Lloyd donates £60,000 reality TV earnings to buy breast cancer scanner

Reality TV star Danielle Lloyd has used all her winnings from Celebrity Big Brother and The Weakest Link to fund the purchase of a new hospital breast scanner.

The former Miss England donated £58,500 which was matched pound for pound by Barclays Bank to buy the special scanner at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

The digital Faxitron will make "instant scans" of samples taken from some 25,000 women who use the Linda McCartney Breast Cancer Centre each year.

It allows doctors to identify and diagnose cancerous tissue within minutes.

Donation: The shamed Celebrity Big Brother contestant arrives at the hospital today after helping to fund the purchase of a new hospital breast scanner

Having been treated at the hospital for a lump found on her breast, Danielle pledged to work for the charity and is planning to raise more cash to buy a second machine.

Danielle, 24, praised consultant surgeon Mr Chandra Shekar and his team at the centre.

She said: "This charity is very close to my heart because a few years ago I found a lump in my breast.

"I was looked after very well by Mr Shekar and and all the staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. They were all fantastic. Enlarge 

Donation: The shamed Celebrity Big Brother contestant helped to fund the purchase of a new hospital breast scanner

"I was so worried at the time but everything is now fine.

"After all they did for me I want to repay the charity by donating as much as I can.

"The unit really needs another scanner so the money I have just made from my stint on Gladiators will buy the second one.

"Preparing for the Gladiator show was very hard as I am not used to going to the gym, but I new I had to put the effort in as the Gladiators were massive.

"They all had huge muscles and were very fast.

"By the end of it my hands were cut to pieces and my ankle took a hammering but all the hard work was worth it for such a good cause. These machines could save so many women." 

Breast cancer surgeon and director of the unit Chris Holcombe praised Danielle for all her hard work with raising the cash which could save thousands of lives.

Mr Holcombe said: "Danielle has been such a big help with all her fund raising.

"These machines are top of the range and could save the lives of thousands of women.

"The digital scanner instantly detects any cancerous tissue on the spot which saves time and trauma for the patient.

"The unit really needs a second machine to cope with the huge demand and Danielle has promised to donate her money from her appearance on Gladiators.

"This will be certainly be enough to buy a second scanner.

"We cannot thank her enough for all her work and generosity."  Danielle added: "My next project is to try and raise a million pound for the Linda McCartney Center.

"Called the FIELD OF WOMEN, we want to get 10,000 people to come together in Liverpool to form the silhouette of a woman.

"My family and I are hugely involved with the cause and we all wear the pink ladie badges to promote it.

"We need everyone who has ever been affected or knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer to take part and register at www.fieldofwomen.com."