TWO cheques, each for £500, were presented to charities by the Rotary Club of Crediton, proceeds from its Burns’ Night held at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum in January.

Ann Macbeth, club President, presented one cheque to Denise Hook, Community Fundraiser for Hospiscare, the other to Sheila Ralph, chairman of the local Friends of FORCE.

In expressing their thanks, both spoke of the work of their charity. Sheila said FORCE had had a very successful year with 20,000 people through its doors.

"That is sad but it is good that we can help this number of people. The charity is operating one day-a-week in each of the three locations Tiverton, Okehampton and Honiton. Chemotherapy is being administered at each of these places which means people do not have to travel into Exeter.

"FORCE has agreed to pay the salaries of two chemotherapy nurses for the next three years with the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital assuming responsibility thereafter.

"We are buying a Cool Cap machine costing £15,000 for the oncology department for when people lose their hair during chemotherapy which, for women especially, can be an emotional loss.

"We shall be providing a research grant of £25,000 to a specialised gynaecological team at the R D and E, which will relate to investigations into ovarian and bowel cancer," said Sheila.

Denise Hook, Community Fundraiser for Hospiscare, explained that Hospiscare is a local adult hospice charity, giving care for any type of terminal illness.

“We support patients and their families, following a diagnosis of terminal illness,.”

Denise added: "Services range from supporting patients at home, in hospital, in a care home or on the ward at our in-patient unit in Exeter.  We also have two other day hospices in Tiverton and Honiton.?"Our service is free to patients, however, it costs us £7 million a year and we have to raise 80 per cent of that," said Denise. ?She said the recent eight-mile Men’s Walk in Exeter that ended with a pasty and a pint and chance to watch the Six Nations rugby game has, so far, raised £51,000.?She added that people were very generous and Hospiscare were thankful when people remembered the charity in their Will. ?The next Hospiscare fundraising event will be the Twilight Walk at Exmouth on July 6. People will be able to choose a long or short route, setting off from The Maer at Exmouth beside the beach. (www.twilightwalk.org.uk).