CREDITON Boniface Rotary Club has raised almost £8,000 for charity in two recent initiatives.

Rotarians Paul Radnor, Fred Oliver, Paul Butt and Paul Evans raised as much as £1,283 for Force Cancer Charity in a sponsored swim-a-thon, swimming 151 lengths of the pool at Active Crediton (formerly Lords Meadow Leisure Centre).

And an auction of promises at Colebrooke, organised by Fred Oliver and with Garry Adams as treasurer, gathered £6,500 for end-of-life charity Marie Curie.

The auctioned promises included a lift to the airport and a Cornwall holiday, with bids ranging from £10 to £1,100. There were more than 50 pledges made.

The two charities were presented with the funds on Tuesday, June 9 at the Red Lion pub in Shobrooke.

"Rotarians were delighted to make these presentations to two such worthwhile charities,” said a spokesperson for the Rotary club.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser Lauren Derbyshire said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the local Rotary club for their very generous donation of £6,500 in support of Marie Curie.

“Fundraising like this plays a vital role in helping us continue our work, ensuring people living with terminal illness across Devon can receive the care and support they need, when and where they need it most.

“It was a real privilege to spend time with members of the club and hear their personal stories about how Marie Curie has supported them, their families and their loved ones.

“Those conversations are always incredibly powerful and serve as an important reminder of just how vital our services are to communities across the county.

“In Devon, Marie Curie provides Hospice Care at Home, an overnight service delivering expert care and support in people’s own homes, allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings at a difficult time.

“We also work in partnership with local NHS teams, including at Derriford Hospital and across the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, as well as at Mount Gould Community Hospital.

“Alongside this, our companion volunteers offer emotional and practical support in hospital, at home, or over the phone, helping ensure that people and their families feel supported when it matters most.

“Donations like this help us to continue delivering that compassionate, hands-on care, as well as vital emotional support for families. As demand for our services continues to grow, community fundraising remains absolutely essential in allowing us to reach more people who need us.

“I am always incredibly grateful, on behalf of Marie Curie, when individuals or groups choose to support us in this way. The generosity shown by the Rotary club will make a real and lasting difference to families across Devon.

“If anyone is inspired to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Whether that’s joining a local fundraising group like the Crediton Fundraising Group, chaired by Gill Pearn, supporting us as an individual, or volunteering your time, every contribution makes a difference.

“Together, we can ensure more people receive the care and support they deserve at the end of life.”