STUDENTS turned their college green with their efforts to raise hundreds of pounds for a cause close to their hearts.

Staff and students at Darlington College staged a ‘green day’ extravaganza to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support, wearing Macmillan t-shirts to sell cakes and collect money.

Nursery children staged a sponsored toddle and Next Step students organised stalls, raffles and a tombola raising £800 in a matter of hours.

Shirley Chipperfield, director of human resources at the college, lost her mother to cancer in 2010.

She said: “I lost my mum to cancer and recently four members of staff have been diagnosed, so I am passionate about raising awareness and funds for the charity.

“The event was really well supported in college and this is the first of a number to raise awareness.”

Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising manager for County Durham Michelle Muir said she was ‘absolutely amazed’ by the level of support.

She added: “Macmillan Cancer Support relies solely on donations and needs to raise £700,000 a year to put the services needed into place and to ensure no-one faces cancer alone.”

The donation will support services including the information centre at Darlington Memorial Hospital, which provides emotional, practical and financial support to people diagnosed with the condition.

Darlington College also plans to support other Macmillan events including a South Park Walk on July 13 and the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 26.

For more information visit macmillan.org.uk or call on 0808-808-0000.