IT didn't take long for the Macmillan County Durham appeal to hit its first target of £10,000. Within a few weeks of the appeal's launch at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in October 2001, the Rank Foundation set the ball rolling with a cheque for £5,000.

This was quickly matched by an equal amount from Macmillan supporters around the county, including a strong contribution from the Easington area.

After charity concerts by Richmond Operatic Society, in Bishop Auckland, and the Durham Police Band, in Barnard Castle, during the opening weeks of the appeal, the coffers were filling up nicely.

By January 2002, the total had hit six figures, helped by well-wishers such as Sam and Doff Riddell, from Staindrop, County Durham, who donated their diamond wedding gifts and raised £1,000.

Locals at the Glendenning Arms, in Witton Gilbert, near Durham City, followed up their earlier donation of £472, raised at a charity cricket match, with another £500 from a quiz night. Lots of other pubs and clubs followed suit.

An antique silver tea set left at the Durham office of the Macmillan appeal was auctioned as part of a charity antiques day at Auckland Castle in September 2002.

Proceeds of £3,000 from an evening of music and readings in Durham Cathedral helped push up the total as 2002 came to an end.

Just how well the appeal was doing was revealed in February 2002 when Macmillan fundraisers confirmed that the total had hit £300,000.

More than £2,700 was collected from customers at Morrisons supermarket in Bishop Auckland in the first week of December.

In March last year, Michelle Anderson, from Lanchester, County Durham, chipped in with £2,241, raised at a charity ball she arranged.

Then in April, farmer's wife Dottie Benson, who was helped back to health by Macmillan, organised a fashion show at her home, also in Lanchester, which raised more than £3,000.

In May, Freemasons from lodges in Consett and Durham weighed in with cheques totalling £3,900.

In July, more than 250 paid to see Caroline Peacock's picturesque country garden in Hamsterley, County Durham, raising more than £1,100 for the appeal.

Another £2,000 came in after the successful Great Milk (Stout) bike ride through Hamsterley Forest.

A summer golf tournament at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club, near Durham City, also swelled the coffers.

Pedal-pushing Durham prison officers Don Turpin and Mark Fowler chipped in with another £3,500 after cycling 700 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats.

In December, the appeal received £6,000 from the annual Durham Shopping Extravaganza at Durham's Ramside Hall Hotel.

A pre-Christmas concert at Elvet Methodist Church, in Durham, came up with more than £2,000.

Then, in February, Sir Tom Cowie donated £50,000, taking the total very close to its target.

* Macmillan wishes to thank all the other people and organisations that contributed.