THIEVES stole thousands of pounds of charity cash raised by the Lewi 3Cs Appeal when they grabbed a safe from Lewisham Hospital.

The safe, in the hospital's Waterloo block, contained more than £3,500 in cash and cheques for the Lewi 3Cs Appeal, directing cash at "Conquering Colon Cancer".

Appeal director Peggy Fitzsimmons said the appeal was just a few weeks away from completing its target £28,000 when the cash was stolen.

She had just completed the charity's books before going home on Monday, April 15, and was due to pay the money into the bank the following day. But she "felt sick" when she was called in to the office at 7am, on April 16, and saw it had been ransacked.

Some of the money had been raised through collection boxes, the stall in the hospital's reception, boot fairs and donations including Blackheath Women's Rugby Club and Sid Toop undertakers.

Mrs Fitzsimmons said: "Our aim was to get through the whole shopping list of things we wanted to buy and we had achieved it. We were right at the end of the 3Cs appeal and someone has to go and do all this, it makes me feel sick.

"Hopefully we can replace the cheques but not the hard cash, which is about £1,500."

The stolen cash would have completed the £28,000 appeal target to buy a colonoscope, used to examine the bowel, which is due to be delivered at the end of the month.

Over the past 14 years, the charity has raised cash for a variety of diagnostic equipment including a CT scanner, five defibrillators and special wheelchairs for stroke patients.

Police are investigating the burglary which took place between 5pm, on April 15, and 6.45am the next day.

Anyone with information should call Catford crime desk on 020 8284 5100.

Anyone who wants to make a donation should write to The Appeals Office, Waterloo Block, Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham High Street, SE13 7LH. Cheques payable to Lewi Appeal.