AS Times readers prepare to get the kettle on and the cakes in the oven ahead of Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday, we take a look at the work the money they raise does across north and east Wiltshire.

Last year over 860 coffee mornings in Wiltshire raised an amazing £168,000. Macmillan supports people affected by cancer right across the county, with almost all of its funding coming from donations. In Wiltshire around 10 people every day receive a cancer diagnosis and five die from the illness.

Macmillan services and support in Wiltshire are wide-ranging. They include 28 seperate members of staff, incliding Macmillan clinical nurse specialists, a clinical psychologist, oncology support workers and a urological cancer team.

There are also other areas of practical, financial and emotional support Macmillan provides.

Last year over £75,000 was given to people in the county through Macmillan grants. These emergency funds help people with things like increased costs of heating, or perhaps rent and other housing costs. Macmillan welfare benefits specialists are also able to help people claim financial support of which they would otherwise be unaware.

In June Macmillan funded a Health & Wellbeing event for people who are at different stages of cancer treatment or are now in recovery. Hosted by Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust, more than 80 people attended and said they found the event helpful, informative and inspiring.

Macmillan’s mission is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer and inspire millions of others to do the same. Any help you can give will mean they can reach more people in your local community.

If you are being affected by cancer, Macmillan is there for you. If you’d like support, information or just to chat, call free on 0808 808 00 00, Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm or visit macmillan.org.uk

Friday

Melksham: Specsavers, 29 Bank Street, 9am-6pm. Members of staff will be putting their best bakes forward and are inviting customers and passers-by to enjoy a delicious slice of home-made cake.

Trowbridge: Howard Travel, 12-13 Church Walk. Trowbridge, 10.30am onwards. Enjoy delicious cakes and refreshments, and meet the team as they raise money for a very worthy cause.

Trowbridge: Nationwide building Society, Castle Street, 9am-5pm. Staff put our the treats for customers and passers-by.

Warminster: The Courtyard Cafe @ The Ginger Piggery, Boyton, 10am-4pm. Enjoy coffee and cake, competitions and raffle

Westbury: Wilsons Residential, 14 High Street, 10.30am onwards. Coffee and cake and a warm welcome.

Erlestoke: Erlestoke House Farm Shop, HMP Erlestoke, Westbury Road, from noon. Tea, coffee and cakes, also selling produce, plants, eggs, cards, soap, crafts and wooden items, with a raffle to win a fantastic bird house.

Lacock: Whitehall Garden Centre, 9am-noon.