n SIX energetic Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme participants from Casterton School raised more than £450 for charity as part of their service to the community. Preparation started in late October and plans came to fruition on Saturday for one trio - Laura Leach, Mariselle Harrison and Katie Shuker - who organised a coffee morning in Casterton Village Hall in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The three girls spent many hours collecting presents for the lucky dip and tombola, as well as making cakes and mince pies. In contrast, Ayla Newton, Jessica York and Laurel White persuaded the whole school, including several courageous staff, to wear Christmas fancy dress for a day instead of their normal school clothes. Traditional shepherds, delicately-winged fairies, tinsel-adorned angels, flashing Santa hats and reindeer antlers abounded, and by the end of a very festive day £260 had been raised for their charity, Breast Cancer Research.

n A NUMBER of sessions are being held to help inform people about dementia. Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust's dementia awareness project and South Lakeland Alzheimer's Society memory advice and support service are joining forces and holding six weekly sessions at the Kelsick Centre, in Ambleside, starting on January 12 from 10am to noon. The two-hour information forums are an introduction to dementia and will provide information via speakers and group discussions on finances and practicalities; medication and the work of the memory clinic; communication; the role of social services; and how carers can look after themselves. The sessions are open to people with dementia, their carers, family and friends, health professionals and anyone interested in knowing more about dementia.

n TWO Kendal schoolboys have embodied the true spirit of Christmas by donating the proceeds from a carol singing trip round their neighbourhood to charity. Sam Nicholson and Marc Robinson, both 13 years old and pupils at The Queen Katherine School, raised £66 pounds from three nights of carol singing at the houses around White Stiles, in Kendal. Instead of spending it on treats for themselves, they have donated half to Macmillan Cancer Relief and half to Derian House Children's Hospice.

n MORE than £2,000 was raised for the Laminitis Trust thanks to a charity lecture by Robert Eustace, a world expert in the treatment of the crippling horse disease. Around 240 people attended the lecture at Kendal Town Hall, which offered information for horse owners, vets and farriers on the treatment and prevention of laminitis. Organised by Angus Wiseman and Kate Burrow, in memory of her horse Pepper who died recently as a result of the disease, the amount raised was £2,703.69.

n A COLLECTION in Asda held by the Kendal committee of the Children's Society raised £258 for the work of the charity. People were encouraged to donate at the superstore by the Heron Hill School Choir. The Margaret Pattinson Singers will hold a concert in the Unitarian Chapel schoolroom on Sunday, February 6, at 2pm, with all proceeds going to the society. Tickets are £3.50 and include afternoon tea.

n FORMER Kendal Town Council treasurer Phil Hull cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats in September, raising money for the Mayor of Kendal's Fund, to be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance, the Sandgate Hydrotherapy Pool Appeal and the Sam Kaye Swimming Fund. More than £900 was raised to be divided between the funds.

n FIVE members of the First Kendal Boys' Brigade Oliver Murphy, Joshua Murphy, Philip Tideswell, Toby Knowles and Callum Hartley - entertained staff and customers at Mackays Stores Ltd, in Highgate, Kendal, by playing Christmas songs and carols in the store, raising £68.79 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.