Friends and family of a terminally ill woman who grew up in South East Cornwall have raised more than £16,000 for cancer charities. Pub landlady Emma Derrick, 34, grew up in Metherell and her parents still live in the village.

She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May and doctors say she has only a few months to live. Last weekend a series of fundraising events, inspired by Emma, were held in aid of cancer charities as well as a 175-mile bed push from her pub in Pill, Bristol, to her parents local in Metherell The Carpenters Arms.

Events held in the village included a big breakfast, charity auction and grand prize raffle. Proceeds from these events and donations came to more than £2,000. Villagers were joined on Sunday evening for the grand raffle by a team of 12 of Emmas friends and family from Pill, who had just completed their ten-day bed push. The group had set themselves a target to raise £10,000 and in the end raised almost £14,000 from their efforts. Emma had originally planned to take part in the bed push herself but was too unwell. Her husband Maff led the push and Emma joined them in Metherell to go through the finishing line.

She said: We have just been overwhelmed by the generosity of people and local businesses all along the journey and especially in Metherell and Harrowbarrow.

Friends, family and people in the villages have given up their time as well as their money to help with this event which has just been amazing. I am disappointed that I was not able to have done more of the bed push journey but the team have done a fantastic job, battling hot sun, pouring rain and lots of blisters. I was thrilled that so many friends from Bristol joined the team for the last stretch from Saltash to Metherell on Sunday.

In total the events raised more than £16,000 which will go to cancer charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Teenage Cancer Trust.