Individuals, groups and organisations joined together to support Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday.

Organisers estimated that, thanks to generous donations, about £8,850 has been raised across Teignbridge.

More than 20 events were held throughout the district to fundraise for the cause, and it is hoped that efforts around the county will bring in more than £100,000 for Macmillan.

The Whistle Stop Cafe, Teignmouth, helped the cause. Despite not taking part in the coffee morning this year, it donated £200.

'We normally take part every year, but this year it clashed with our fundraising for another charity, Operation Imprezza,' said Melissa Middleton, owner of the cafe.

Customers bought iced cakes at The Pickwick Restaurant, Teignmouth, and raised £50.

'Staff also gave all their tips for the day,' said Lisa Boorer, senior waitress at the restaurant.

The Beachcomber, on Teignmouth seafront, tried to top the £500 it raised last year. It made and decorated special Macmillan inspired cakes to celebrate the day.

The rich aroma of coffee could also be smelt at the Methodist Church, Teignmouth, where members, in conjunction with T Clark Funeral Services, supported the charity. The event brought in around £188 for the cause.

The Hobbit, Teignmouth, was also eager to help Macmillan.

Helen Von-Franz, who runs the tearooms, was compelled to help after her sister Jo, who lives in Backwell, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She made headline news by taking part in a breast cancer awareness run, when she entered the competition with her body spray-painted.

'We've been taking part in the Macmillan coffee mornings for at least three years and have raised around £1,000,' said Helen.

'This year we raised around £150, and we hope to make it up to £200 by selling more cakes in the coming days.

'Jo was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and really is an inspiration. She is not in remission and is still taking tablets for the illness.'

Angie Clarance, of Shaldon, opened up her home for the morning to serve coffee for the charity and raised £190. Her next door neighbour, Sue Baker, also collected the same amount.

'It's so terrific, people are very supportive and it's so much fun. I do it each year in memory of my mum,' said Mrs Clarance.

Visitors to Wye Vale's Jack's Patch Garden Centre, Bishopsteignton, also helped the charity. The centre provided a free mug of coffee before 10.30am and welcomed donations.

Home Teign House, sheltered housing in Newton Abbot, has supported the coffee mornings since they started and, thanks to serving 43 cups of coffee and donations, collected £133.

'It's been quieter here than in past years, but more organisations and groups seem to be organising them. The main thing is that people are still donating,' said host Myra Vaughan.

Residents of Alberta Court, Teignmouth, took part for the first time and raised £120. They usually have a coffee morning every week and decided to take part in the charity fundraiser.

For the fifth year, Woods Estate Agents, Newton Abbot, got involved.

'We've not been so busy this year we didn't time to advertise the event. We've supported the charity as much as we can, and we recently held a ball at The Palace Hotel, Torquay, in aid of Macmillan and Help the Heroes,' said Sarah Thomas, who arranged the coffee morning and works in the accounts department at Woods.

Eight members of staff went to work in fancy dress as Glen Lyn Filling Station's Somerfield store, Bovey Tracey, raising £565.

The employees – three even came in on their day off – donated a number of items, including homemade shopping bags, to sell on a stall outside next to their coffee, while also holding a 'guess the weight of the cake competition'.

Organiser Rose Rapier said: 'We know most of our customers are busy and need to shoot off after getting their petrol, so we thought it would be a good idea to have coffee and cakes on the go.'

It was the first time Buckfast Abbey had got involved.

Site warden Geoff Pring, who organised the event, and his group of volunteers were rushed off their feet as soon as they opened the doors to the Grange Restaurant at 10am, with 70 children from the nearby St Mary's Primary School attending.

Abbot David Charlesworth was one of a number of other visitors as £440 was raised, a sum which was pushed up to £1,000 thanks to the Buckfast community.

'We'll definitely do it again next year,' vowed Mr Pring. 'We've got the support there and everyone is behind Macmillan anyway as it's such a good cause.'

In the past two years, New Image Hair Salon, Bovey Tracey, has donated money to Macmillan but it was its first time as an official participant in the coffee morning.

Salon owner Margaret Dyer decided to sell draw tickets to her customers, and several nearby shops donated raffle prizes, which helped boost the donation to just over £250.

A raffle also took place at Coombes and Sons Funeral Directors, Bovey Tracey, with its coffee going down so well with the community that your correspondents struggled to even get through the door. They collected £162.

A group of 26 at the Priory, Abbotskerswell, raised £115 after augmenting their coffee morning with bacon and egg butties.

The Co-op store, near Trago Mills, Liverton, became involved for the third year running with a book stall in addition to its raffle and coffee and biscuits.

Store manager Lisa Bennett, who had to draft in extra staff but was more than happy to do so as £240 was raised, said: 'It was quite busy – it seems to be getting bigger and bigger each year – and the books, which were donated by staff, sold really well.'

The owner of The Singing Kettle, Jill Burgess, again provided the Buckfastleigh WI with free use of one of her rooms so it could participate – and the sum of £210 was made, despite fewer people attending than previous years.

Married couple Graham and Tina Adnitt were also in charitable mood as they allowed the local Macmillan fundraising group to hold its event at their Chagford home.

The chairman of the committee, Shirley Spalding, was grateful as the coffers were boosted by £370.

More than 900 coffee gatherings took place across the county in support of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

The event has now been running for nearly 20 years.

Macmillan's local fundraising manager Calvin Lovelock said: 'I would like to thank each and every person who helped to make the 2009 World's Biggest Coffee Morning the biggest and best yet.'

p WHILE most of the events were held last week, Catherine Harris is organising a World's Biggest Coffee Morning, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, in the United Reformed Church Hall, Kingsteignton, tomorrow, from 10am-noon.

As well as cups of coffee there will be a bring and buy and cake stall. It could not be held last week because it would have clashed with the church's Harvest event.