The families who own the seven Whalsay based pelagic midwater trawlers – Adenia, Antarctic II, Antares, Charisma, Research, Serene and Zephyr – have come together to donate £100,000 to the appeal.

Chairman of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) pelagic committee and skipper of the Charisma, Davie Hutchison, said the families hope this contribution would help to stimulate the fund further by enabling its organisers to lever in additional funding from local and national sources.

“The case for the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick to have its own MRI scanner, which is used to diagnose and monitor a huge variety of medical conditions, is overwhelming,” Hutchison said. “It will result in big savings in travel costs and reduce stress and inconvenience for patients. The pelagic fishermen all felt very strongly that this project will bring real benefit to our whole community and we are delighted to be able to come together and support this unique cause in the manner we have. It is our understanding that once 50 per cent of the funding target has been met, applications can be made to other funding bodies outside Shetland and that has to be the goal.”

Lorraine Hall of Shetland Health Board described the donation as “overwhelmingly generous” which she accepted “with gratitude”. “This donation has set the MRI Scanner Appeal on track to reach its target of £1.650 million. Thank you to all the families involved,” she added.