A DORSET charity has raised a significant amount of money to help residents fighting cancer.

Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust donated almost £33,000 to a variety of causes.

The charity's main aim is to save lives by raising awareness about bowel cancer in young people aged 18 to 30.

It was founded in 2012 by Andrew Drake and his family after Andrew was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 24. Sadly, Mr Drake passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on through the work of the charity.

A total of £5,000 was donated to the Fortuneswell Unit at Dorset County Hospital to help them raise £850,000 for a new chemotherapy unit.

A further £11,400 was donated to DCH's radiotherapy unit. Ducks & Drakes has donated a total of £115,450 to the hospital since 2010.

Simon Pearson, head of DCH Charity said: “We would like to say a very big 'thank you' to Ducks & Drakes Cancer Trust.

"As one of the main supporters of the DCH Cancer Appeal, Ducks & Drakes has contributed significant funding. They are a spirited group of fundraisers and valued friends of the hospital."

Ducks & Drakes also donated £6,500 to Dorset's Weldmar Hospice - £3,540 of which will be spent on training people to work with bereaved children. The remainder is being used for bedding and equipment.

Caroline Hamblett, Weldmar CEO, said: "The support from Ducks & Drakes is fantastic. Their funding has enabled us to support so many families facing bereavement."

The Trust also donated £5,000 to Mosaic, a charity that supports bereaved children.

Margaret Hannibal, CEO of Mosaic said: “On behalf of everyone at Mosaic I would like to thank Ducks & Drakes for their wonderful support this year.

"The donation has been used to provide training to schools and agencies throughout Dorset, giving their staff the confidence and skills to work with bereaved children.

"Our aim is to train at least one member of staff in every school so that support is available when a child experiences a death of a loved one."

A donation of £5,000 also went to Yeovil Hospital to go towards funding specialist cancer nurses.

For more information about the work of Ducks & Drakes visit www.ducksdrakescancertrust.org.uk