PEOPLE in the Tamar Valley are the most generous donors to Macmillan Cancer Support in the whole of the South and West of the UK, according to figures just released by the charity.

The funding raised locally is used to support the flagship Macmillan Mustard Tree Centre at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital as well as the Triangle centre at Tavistock and grants to people across the region affected by cancer.

Alex Folkes, Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising manager for Plymouth, North Devon and the Tamar Valley, said: 'It is a testament to the generosity of our communities that we should come out top in this report.

'But it also shows what a valuable service is being provided by Macmillan professionals at Derriford and Tavistock and across the community. Local people see the value of these services and have shown their approval through their contributions.

'This report shows that in 2008, the patch covering Plymouth, North Devon and the Tamar Valley received a higher contribution per head of population than any other patch in Southern or Western England or Wales — an area stretching from Hampshire in the South East to Cornwall in the West and as far north as Birmingham and Shropshire.

'But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Macmillan Cancer Support is funding the £650,000 extension of the Mustard Tree Centre so that it can provide even more services for people affected by cancer. We are also looking to extend the number of specialist staff that we take on.

'Recently we have taken on a speech and language therapist, a mesothelioma specialist and a skin cancer specialist at Derriford.

'Our next steps are to recruit more members of Team Macmillan for the Plymouth Half Marathon and to find more local event organisers.

If anyone can help then they should call 01566 770810 or email [email protected]">[email protected]