OKEHAMPTON author Joan Rawson, 83, has donated the money from the sale of her book to the new eye clinic at Okehampton Castle Hospital.
Mrs Rawson's first publication 'Truth is Stranger than Fiction: Grandma's World' which is about the first part of her fascinating life was released in September.
Having sold more than 160 copies of the book, she handed over a cheque for £500 to the eye clinic last week.
Mrs Rawson said: 'I have been going to hospital in Exeter for years to have treatment for my eyes and I have had two cataract operations so I know what it is like to have eye trouble.
'My husband is unable to drive now and I am too old to run for the bus so I have to rely on somebody else to take me to Exeter.
'It is lovely to think people will now be able to get treatment locally. It will be so much easier to get to the Castle Hospital.
The eye clinic which was opened this week has come about through the fundraising efforts of local people. The equipment has cost around £15,000.
The once-a-month clinic will save people having to travel to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for diagnosis and follow up treatment after surgery.
Mrs Rawson said her husband Walter has paid for the production of the book as a present so she had wanted to donate money from the sale of it to a worthy cause.
The book, which tells about her time as the owner of a guest house in Okehampton, was written for her grand-daughters but was published because Mr Rawson thought it was such a good read.
The author has already started on her next book. 'I have to get 30 years of my life into this book,' she said. 'It was a very different life to the one talked about in my first book.'
Mrs Rawson owned various shops in Okehampton and has many stories to share. Copies of her first book are still available at outlets in the town.
Locality manager Jane Barr has praised all the local people who donated money and fundraised for the eye clinic.