A GROUP of hardworking West Devon volunteers are celebrating the 21st birthday of a vital charity by raising the incredible total of more than £21,000 to mark the event.
The driving forces behind the North Dartmoor Hospiscare Support Group are Jackie and Ted Sweet of Iddesleigh.
Ted said: ?We wanted to do something a bit special to celebrate 21 years of Hospiscare. We normally raise around £10,000 every year. We decided to step up our efforts and set ourselves the challenge of raising £21,000 during the anniversary year.?
The couple organised coffee mornings, lunches, cream teas and shows during their marathon fundraising effort.
?It was hard work but we had our plan and we stuck to it,? said Ted.
?Local people were very supportive and came along to our events.?
Local groups in Belstone and Chagford also organised coffee mornings and lunches.
West Devon Hospiscare nurse Gay Hill of Chagford said: ?This is a fantastic sum of money to raise and a very special way of celebrating 21 years of Hospiscare.
?All the money raised will help us provide high quality care and support to people with life-threatening illness throughout Exeter, mid and East Devon, helping people make the most of their lives, despite their illness.?
Hospiscare community nurses provide specialist care and practical support to patients and their families in their own homes. Care programmes are designed to an individual?s emotional, social and spiritual needs as well as their physical ones.
The service costs £2.6 million a year to provide, a large proportion of which is raised by the fundraising efforts of the local community.