FROM mayors to young mums, care homes to cadet groups people across Norfolk are being encouraged to raise a mug and help raise money for MacMillan.

FROM mayors to young mums, care homes to cadet groups people across Norfolk are being encouraged to raise a mug and help raise money for MacMillan.

The cancer support charity's World's Biggest Coffee Morning will take place on Friday, September 25, this year and everyone is being encouraged to get involved.

Watton Mayor Margaret Holmes helped kick off the campaign to get people involved by announcing she will be hosting a coffee morning at the town's youth club, The Surge, as part of the big day.

She said: 'Cancer strikes so many people and MacMillan care for people in their homes.

'Life has changed and now people move around. Often people do not have the support of family any more.

'Relatives can often be a long way away but MacMillan can give support.'

Ms Holmes said she would be holding her coffee morning in memory of her friends Jan Gambling who died of Leukaemia.

The Mayor also has experience of the effects cancer can have on a family because her mother died of breast cancer.

She encouraged everyone to come along and enjoy the morning, try and piece of cake and have a go at the raffle.

Every day more than 800 people in the UK are told they have cancer and Macmillan's ambition is to help every person in need by providing medical, emotional, practical and emotional support.

Last year more than 45,000 coffee mornings were held across the country which raised more than �7.5m.

Luke Wheeler, fundraising manager for west Norfolk, said that he hoped more than 1,000 would be held in Norfolk alone this year.

He said: 'Everyone can do it and it is so easy to organise them.

'This year we are also trying to get as many businesses as possible involved.

'Even if you have just three or four employees it will still make a difference.'

For more information on how to organise a coffee morning go to www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 6021246.