Thousands of people put the kettle on yesterday to raise a mug - and some money - for a cancer charity.

Thousands of people put the kettle on yesterday to raise a mug - and some money - for a cancer charity.

Around the country people shared personal stories of survival and sadness over a cup of tea in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Kettles boiled and cakes crumbled in shops, caf�s, clubs and council chambers, with gatherings ranging from a few friends at home to hundreds in halls at more than 800 coffee mornings across Norfolk.

Last night Macmillan were hoping to beat last year's fundraising total of �4.5m nationally, with around 4,000 events hosted across the country.

Supporters in Norfolk held more than 800 events, and fundraisers were hoping to top last year's �158,000 total, though final figures will not be known for some time.

Norfolk fundraising manager Helen Chapman said: 'It's been absolutely fantastic. We have had loads of people out there - some of the events I have visited have been full to bursting.

'Every penny helps, and this year we have a hard target to beat - if we can get anything close to �150,000 we will be very happy.'

Volunteers made the rounds to check on events, including 27-year-old Alexis Phillipson, who lost her mum Kathleen to cancer in June this year.

'It's an evil disease,' she said. 'What it does to people is evil. Macmillan were brilliant when my mum was ill - that's why I'm doing this now.'

In Sprowston a care home was transformed for an Irish themed coffee afternoon - with a bit of Baileys to add bite to the beverages.

'It was tremendous,' said general manager Richard Lawson. 'It was absolutely heaving - we ran out of chairs, we had to bake extra buns, we nearly ran out of cups.'

In Sheringham townspeople were offered a glimpse behind the doors of the council chamber, and the chance to take tea with mayor Noel Gant, who thanked individuals and businesses in the town for their generosity.

'Macmillan nurses' annual salaries are one fifth of a professional footballer's salary for one week,' said Mr Gant. 'We have got it upside down.'

Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman formally opened a coffee morning held at Yaxley village hall in Suffolk, taking the time to praise Macmillan staff for their hard work and dedication.

Mr Wakeman's mother died of cancer fifteen years ago, and was treated by nurses from Macmillan in her last months.

In Wymondham a whole street turned out to help raise money, selling home-made cakes, biscuits and sausage rolls alongside tea and coffee in a gazebo. The event was led by Maria Hewkin, herself a survivor of breast cancer and founder of charity Keeping Abreast.

Year Six pupils at Scarning Primary School in Dereham acted as waiters and waitresses for the day and served cakes brought in by parents, and near Kings Lynn the North Wooton baby and toddler group ran a second-hand book, toy and clothes sale.

For more information visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

Cancer in the UK

2m people are living with or beyond cancer in the UK.

The number of people living with cancer in the UK is increasing by 3.2% every year.

This means that nearly 4m people could be living with cancer by 2030.

300,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every year - 4,400 of them in Norfolk.

150,000 people in the UK die from cancer every year.

One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some time in our lives.

One in ten people aged 65 or over in the UK have had a cancer diagnosis.

Where the money goes

Macmillan currently reaches one in two people living with or affected by cancer. It aims to raise the funds to reach everyone.

�1 - one more person receives leaflets giving them information on their cancer and where they can get support.

�22 - funds a Macmillan family support worker for an hour.

�40 - helps a cancer support group hold their first meeting.

�156 - runs the Ask Macmillan care line for one hour, giving information and support to an average of 13 people.

�184 - could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a working day.

�278 - stocks a Macmillan cancer information and support centre for a month with all the information resources it needs.

�544 - helps run a typical large information and support centre.

�918 - will pay for a nurse for a working week.

�105,333 - could fund one of Macmillan's new rehabilitation support teams for a year.

�1.5m - could pay for a new large information and support centre.