BUSINESS leaders are to tee off for the Bolton Coronary Care Appeal this month with a VIP golf day.

Tickets have been snapped up for the event which takes place on Wednesday, September, 18, at Bolton Golf Club.

The Coronary Care Appeal, backed by the Bolton Evening News, aims to raise £1million to build a bigger cardiac rehabilitation unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Six months on from its launch, the total already stands at more than £560,000.

The golf day is part of many fundraising schemes organised by companies and community groups across Bolton.

Kevin Jones, a consultant at the Royal Bolton Hospital, will be speaking at the dinner at the end of the golf day which is being sponsored by Enterprise plc.

This event is now fully booked.

The new 10-bed unit to be built at the hospital will provide better facilities for the town which suffers from a poor chronic heart disease record.

Societies, clubs and community groups have thrown themselves into the fund-raising efforts -- but more money-raising events are still needed.

An invitation-only party to say a special thank you to all those who have raised money is to be held at the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers, who are also backing the appeal. It will take place on September 19.

Anyone wanting to help raise funds for the appeal can contact 01204 390111.