The Mecca Bingo Club has raised £287,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, which will help the charity give 14,000 hours of home nursing care to needy patients. Over 100 centers throughout the UK had participated in the fundraising, raising money for the cause through bingo games.

103 clubs and centers have managed to raise a total of £287,000, which is £87,000 more than the target they had set for themselves when they initially began the project.

Mecca Bingo spokesman Chris Garrett thanked the staff and players for all the hard work they had put in to help raise funds for the excellent cause.

ItÂ's not too late for other people to participate either; those who are interested in helping cancer patients are asked to give up three hours of their time per week, to spend time with the patients. Volunteers will undergo some training prior to working with the patients, and the next training session will be on 15 March in Somerset.

Maria Pierides