A SPECIAL fundraiser in Okehampton has helped raise almost £500 for the Okehampton Guiding Association. A drop-in coffee morning, with hot drinks, cake and bric-a-brac galore, was held in the town's Charter Hall to help fund a replacement hut for the the Brownies and Girl Guides packs. Marie Endacott, leader of the 2nd Okehampton Brownies, said: 'I'm delighted with the money we raised. 'It was a truly fantastic event and raised a significant amount of money towards the cost of the new headquarters. 'The fundraising for the new hut is going really well — in the last month we've raised close to £1,000. Huge thanks must go to everyone who came to support us and all the mums who came along to help. 'The pack here is a large organisation within the town, with around 100 members from across the community. Everyone was talking about the event both before and after it. 'Our thanks also go to Mel Stride and Christine Marsh for all their help in organising such a successful event.' The coffee morning, attended by around 200 people, was organised by Okehampton town, borough and county councillor, Christine Marsh, and the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Central Devon, Mel Stride. Said Mr Stride: 'Communities thrive when there is local supportive involvement and this event was a marvellous example of just that. Local people came out to support the Girl Guides and Brownies, both of which provide girls with a wide range of different opportunities and experiences, many of which last a lifetime.' The next big fundraisng event for the Okehampton Guiding Association is a 'fun' casino and race night planned for early June, with further details to follow nearer the time.
