STAFF at TSB Okehampton have recently chosen to support the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) and have kicked off their fund raising efforts with a donation of £500. 

The money was raised from selling coffee and cakes and holding a raffle in the branch. The event was the first of many that will take place over the next year.

Nigel Joy, bank manager, said he was delighted to be supporting such an important local charity.

'As a local bank, TSB's sole purpose is to help the communities that surround us.

'ELF is a well recognised charity in the community and it is clear that they make an enormous difference to the lives of so many local people – when they most need it.

'We are really pleased with the success of the TSB fundraising so far — it is a fantastic start to our support for ELF. Our customers love the idea and have been really generous in supporting what we are doing. The team have all worked hard putting in a lot of time and dedication.'

The TSB team in Okehampton raised £250.  Match funding from the bank brings the total donation to ELF up to £500.

Carol Bennett, chair of ELF's Okehampton fundraising group, said: 'You have your big corporate fundraising groups and then you get grassroots fundraising groups like ours.

Any amount is good so this is a lot of money for us. It all counts, and every penny helps ELF, which is what it's all about.