STAFF at Mole Avon Trading Limited are delighted to have raised more than £22,000 for local charity Hospiscare.

The money raised so far this year was presented to John Arnold, corporate fundraiser for Hospiscare, at Mole Avon's dinner and dance at Powderham Castle – a special occasion to mark 40 years of Mole Avon Trading Limited.

The massive total, which took eight months to achieve, is part of Mole Avon's bid to raise £40,000 for the charity - £1,000 for each year Mole Avon Trading Limited has been in business.

The total so far has been achieved through a huge range of events including cake sales and tombolas, bingos and quiz nights, craft fairs, car boot sales and jumble sales, harvest supper, a ploughing match and a river cruise, a sky dive and ladies and mens walks.

The company will continue to fundraise until it reaches its target.

Hospiscare needs to raise more than £4m each year to continue to provide its free of charge services to people with life-limiting illnesses in Exeter, mid and east Devon.

Hospiscare corporate fundraiser John Arnold said: "The support given to Hospiscare this year by Mole Avon is truly amazing.

"The staff have shown tremendous initiative, organising a huge variety of events, as well as taking part in Hospiscare events to raise this fantastic amount".

"Support from local companies like Mole Avon is so important to us.

" By choosing to support Hospiscare, Mole Avon is helping our patients and their families when they need support the most.

"On behalf of our patients, their families and Hospiscare staff and volunteers I would like to thank everyone at Mole Avon for making a difference."

Mole Avon chose Hospiscare to support in this special year as the charity has touched members of staff, customers, suppliers and their families alike.

The company is pleased to have teamed up with a charity which has such a synergistic geographical fit with Mole Avon's trading area, to be able to give something back to the local communities with which their customers in the main come from.

Mole Avon would like to thank the staff, friends, family and customers who have supported the company throughout the year and helped them raise such a fantastic amount.

"We would not have been able to get this far without the hard work and dedication of staff at all our sites – the three Mole Avon Town and Country Stores, Town and Countrywear, Mole Avon Forecourt and our Central Administration office." Says Richard Billson, Mole Avon chief executive, "We have also had fantastic support from our customers, friends and family and suppliers who have been happy to support such a worthy local charity.