MARGARET Phillips of Sandford has been busy knitting her Easter chicks again this year in aid of charity.

The chicks, which are sold to raise funds for the FORCE cancer charity, are available in Sandford, at the Community Stores, the Lamb Inn, the Rose and Crown and at St Swithun’s Church. In Crediton they are for sale at Valerie Barker’s Jewellers, Stevie B’s Bakery and Chiddenbrook Surgery.

In the last few years Margaret has raised hundreds of pounds for various charities by selling her Easter chicks and Christmas puddings. The chocolates inside the chicks and puddings are kindly donated by local supermarkets in Crediton.

Since FORCE (Friends of the Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre, Exeter) was first registered as a charity in 1987 it has developed a vital role in providing local cancer services. Its work is founded on the belief that anyone diagnosed with cancer deserves the best possible support and treatment close to home.

The charity initially operated out of a small room at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and had no full-time employees. Driven by the desire to improve support for local cancer patients, FORCE has grown into one of the region’s most loved and respected charitable organisations.

In 1991 FORCE appointed a clinical research assistant, and it was this post which became the foundation for the highly successful clinical research programme at the RD and E today. FORCE grew steadily through the 1990s and the Trustees decided to extend the charity’s remit to develop non-clinical support for cancer patients and their families.

After a three-year appeal the Centre opened in September 2004, thanks to more than £900,000 raised by local people and the tireless work of a fundraising team.

In its first year the Centre received more than 9,000 visits, nearly doubling its original projection. It soon became clear that there was a need for more space and in 2011 an appeal for £350,000 was launched to build an extension that would almost double the size of the Centre.

Incredible public generosity meant the target was quickly reached and the new extension opened in December 2012.

Thanks to a significant legacy, FORCE now has a designated fund to continue purchasing state of the art equipment to improve cancer treatment.

For more information about FORCE or to find out fundraising can help, please visit: www.forcecancercharity.co.uk .

Carol Furze