THERE were plenty of hosts in West Devon holding events as part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning last Friday — they had the common goal of raising more than £190,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in Devon and Cornwall.

The charity's fundraising manager for North Devon, Plymouth and Tamar Valley, Suzie Warren, said: 'I would like to thank each and every person who helped to make the 2010 World's Biggest Coffee Morning the biggest and best yet.

'It's such an easy way to make a difference to people affected by cancer; by simply getting together with friends and family over a cuppa, you have helped us take a big step towards reaching our ambition as well as having fun and putting a smile on your mug!

'Once again it's been a great success, and the people of West Devon and East Cornwall got behind us wholeheartedly, helping us raise thousands of pounds.'

Macmillan relies almost entirely on donations, and without all the hard work from coffee morning hosts and goodwill from those who go along to their events, would not be able to keep offering the services they do.

The charity does not yet know how much money has been raised from the coffee morning, as much of it has still to come in. But charity bosses are hopeful they will hit their UK target of £8-million. And they are urging local people who have not yet supported them to give their fundraising figures a further boost by spending £3 to buy a virtual coffee by texting COFFEE to 70123. Texts will cost £3 plus the standard network rate.

Suzie added: 'That's around the price of a coffee, and depending on the network we'll get between the full £3 and £2.67. Those donations will really add up so we're very hopeful loads of people will buy virtual coffees over the next few days.

'Every year we raise more and more from the World's Biggest Coffee Morning. It's an event that really seems to capture the interest of all kinds of groups, from large UK-wide businesses, to individuals and small community organisations.'

l Among the many venues for Macmillan coffee mornings was the Holy Cross Church Hall at Yelverton. Organisers Sue Savage and Barbara Dawe write: 'We would like to thank everyone who helped with the Macmillan Coffee Morning held in the Catholic Church Hall in Yelverton.

'Thanks to all who gave donations, for the delicious home made cakes and to those who served the coffee, ran the raffle and manned the stalls.

'It was a lovely morning and raised a fantastic £540. Thank you.'