TWO friends, Christine Stevens and Janet Sherwood, members of Morchard Bishop Bowling Club, have raised a fantastic sum for a local charity.

Christine’s husband Geoff and Janet’s husband, Sam, who are also bowlers at Morchard Bishop Bowling Club, were both having treatment at the Haematology Centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Christine explained that while in the hospital she and Janet read a leaflet about the charity, Exeter Leaukaemia Fund’s Chevithorne Appeal, a plan to raise £420,000 to build a suite of rooms in which family members can stay while someone is being treated at the Haematology Centre.

Christine said: "We decided to channel our energies, rather than thinking about our respective partner’s illnesses, into something else, something positive and from that decided to run a coffee morning in aid of the Appeal."

The couple held the coffee morning at Morchard Bishop Bowling Club on August 15.

Christine added: "The morning was a huge success and thanks to the generosity of our families, friends and fellow bowlers we raised £1,141.67 for ELF for their Chevithorne Appeal to build two purpose built flats for patients while critically ill or receiving end-of-life care so that they can be with their families and loved ones."

Janet explained: "We estimated we would make about £500 and were thrilled to raise so much more thanks to so many people’s generosity and to local businesses and shops in Crediton for some wonderful draw prizes and donations."

She thanked, from Crediton, Morrisons, A J Cox butchers, Crediton Autos, The General Redvers Buller, Ashtons Coffee Lounge, Susan’s Florists, Tesco, Mole Avon and Revive, and The London Inn Salon at Eggesford.

Janet concluded: "It was just an amazing sum to raise and ELF was delighted with the fantastic total."