People across Wiltshire are being encouraged to take their teddies to work next Friday, to raise money for a pioneering new cancer centre.

Ted’s Big Day Out is being held as part of the Forever Friends Appeal to raise funds for the new cancer unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Participants can pay £1 to keep their teddy with them all day, and are encouraged to bake cakes to sell to raise funds for the hospital appeal.

The day has been dubbed Fluorescent Friday, with fundraisers asked to dress up in neon colours to help raise awareness of the appeal.

Bath-based Winter Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams is supporting the campaign, and will be visiting the hospital with her teddy on Friday to help with the fundraising. Vice President of the Forever Friends appeal, actress Gemma Bissix is also supporting the cause. The former Hollyoaks and Eastenders star will be taking her teddy with her all day, and dressing in full neon fancy dress. She said: “I hope everyone takes part in Fluorescent Friday to help raise funds for such a sensational new Cancer Centre.”

Also backing the RUH appeal is Shakespearean actor Tim Pigott-Smith and BBC Radio 2 and 5 Live presenter Simon Mayo, who have both pledged to keep their teddies with them on Friday, as has Strictly Come Dancing winner and actress Kara Tointon. She said: “I am taking my ted out for the day - he will wait for me in my dressing room while I'm on stage.”

Wiltshire School of Gymnastics in Melksham are also getting involved. Jacqui Upton, pre-school co-coordinator for the school, said: “our pre-school groups will all be taking part, they’re bringing in their teddies into our gym classes and wearing some fluorescent clothing for their gym lessons.

“We’ve got a lot of young children here and they’ve probably all been up to RUH at some point, and we wanted to help the hospital. It’s such a good cause, and we all know somebody who’s suffered from cancer”.

The Forever Friends Appeal raises money for the RUH, and its current campaign looks to raise over £5 million in the next four years towards the cost of a brand new cancer centre at the site.

To sign up for a fundraising pack visit www.tedsbigdayout.co.uk or call 01225 825825.