A TEAM of dedicated fundraisers have thanked everyone who has helped them to raise more than £20,000.

The Darlington Fundraising Group for Marie Curie has smashed their target by organising a variety of successful events in the town.

Leigh Taylor, of the group, said: This year we’ve had a Blooming Great Tea Party at the Darlington Carnival, a Variety Night at The Railway Institute, stalls at the Gold Tea Dance and Hurworth Country Fair, and numerous collections in the town and at our town’s supermarkets.

“We would like to say a very big thank you to all the businesses who have hosted the Christmas-time and the Great Daffodil Appeal collections. There have also been very thoughtful individuals and groups who have made contributions through donating money in lieu of birthday presents, running craft fairs and having Christmas Collections.”

The group’s collaboration with Denis Pinnegar, the president of Darlington Lions Club, as his charity of the year resulted in a £6,650 donation from the club.

The Lions have also supported Marie Curie for a number of years with the annual Great Daffodil Appeal street collection.

She added: “We are very fortunate to have a hospice in our town, St Teresa’s, which works in partnership with Marie Curie to provide the Rapid Response Service of nurses and health care assistants.”

The group,who meet once a month to organise fundraising events, can be contacted the their Facebook group @mariecuriedarlo, by email: darlingtonfundraisinggroup.mariecurie@hotmail.co.uk, or on Twitter @MarieCurieDarlo