AS Gazette 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.

Macmillan supports people affected by cancer right across the county, with almost all of its funding coming from donations. In Wiltshire alone there are thousands of people living with cancer, with around 10 people every week receiving a cancer diagnosis – and that's not counting their families, on whom the illness also has a devastating effect.

Macmillan services and support in Wiltshire are wide-ranging. They include Macmillan clinical nurse specialists plus a team of oncology specialists such as dietary, psychology and palliative care staff. There are also other areas of practical, financial and emotional support Macmillan provides.

Macmillan can also provide emergency funds to 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

Macmillan coffee mornings in the Gazette area this year include:

Thursday and Friday:

Devizes: 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.

Friday:

Chippenham: John Williams Heating Services, Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate, Bumpers Way, from 10am.

Lacock: Whitehall Garden Centre, 9am-noon.

Chippenham: Inspire Fitness, Union Road, between 9am-1pm. Coffee, cakes and a raffle.

Friday and Saturday:

Devizes: Kennet Furniture Refurbiz, Unit 6, Hopton Industrial Estate, from 10am. All welcome to bring along a cake or just come for a cuppa.

11am-12.30pm - Macmillan coffee morning, Winchcombe Funeral Directors, Devizes.

Chilton Foliat: Chilton Foliat Primary School. School hall, Stag Hill, 9am.

Devizes: Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning at Crammer Court, Church Walk, on Wednesday, September 28 at 10am.

Devizes: The Narthex, Church of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, St Joseph's Walk, 3pm.