A CANCER support charity has been handed a bumper cheque for £4,868.21 after a successful coffee morning at the Archie Gooch Pavilion in Ilminster.

A representative of Macmillan Coffee Support met with the organisers of the charity coffee morning to receive the payment on Monday, October 3.

The coffee morning took place on Saturday, September 10 between 10am and 12pm. The organising team was led by former Ilminster mayor Julie Fowler.

She was supported by Angie Blackwell of Cottage Flowers, Annie Roden, Ilminster Lions president Shirley Farley, and Lions member Glenys Whaites.

Before the coffee morning, Angie offered a cake delivery service to local businesses in exchange for donations to the cause, boosting the overall total.

There was also a raffle that benefitted from ticket sales outside the Tesco supermarket and a talk by Dr Andrew Tressider at Cottage Flowers.

Genevieve Drinkwater, Macmillan's senior fundraising manager in the south west, was on hand to collect the cheque at the award-winning florists.

Chard & Ilminster News: The coffee morning was held on Saturday, September 10. Picture: Steve RichardsonThe coffee morning was held on Saturday, September 10. Picture: Steve Richardson (Image: Steve Richardson)

Julie said: “The total raised is overwhelming – £1,000 more than last year.

“We had tremendous support from local shops and voluntary organisations as well as the wonderful community of Ilminster.

“But it was down to great teamwork that we achieved such an amazing result and I would like to express my thanks to Angie, Shirley, Annie and Glenys for their great contribution.”

Macmillan Cancer Support encouraged coffee mornings to be organised across the UK in September, which raised more than £1.3 million in total.

That figure is enough to fund 21 Macmillan nurses for an entire year.

The charity aims to make sure people with cancer “live life as fully as they can” by providing physical, financial, and emotional support.

Its nurses help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options and support them through their cancer experience.

Macmillan also researches the changing needs of people living with cancer and those who support them to improve the services they offer.

Earlier this year, Julie, Angie, and Annie handed Genevieve a cheque for £2,200 after hosting a garden party in aid of the charity at Cottage Flowers.