From raft racing to skydiving and dance shows to golf days, residents and organisations across the region have shown their support for The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House's Seahorse Appeal.

Thousands of pounds have flooded into The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House to back the charity's campaign to raise �750,000 to help give people greater choice on where they want to die.

The response from the public to the charity's Seahorse Appeal, launched last week, has far exceeded the expectations of chief executive Richard Shaw, but he hopes that people will continue to organise events.

'We've had a really positive reaction to the appeal and we've got great hopes for what it will help us to achieve,' he said.

'I was sat with some of the patients on Monday and they are very pleased because, through this appeal, they feel they have been listened to and that their story had been told, which is important to them.

'From the volunteers' and staff point of view, they all have a spring in their step from the response we've had.'

The biggest donation to the appeal so far has come from a Dersingham dance school which handed over �2,683 to the charity to really help kick start the Seahorse Appeal.

Members of the Ashley-Emile Theatre Dance School presented the cheque to the charity's fundraising team last week before showcasing their talent with a performance. The money was raised following an Olympic-inspired show in June.

The dance school has donated money over the past few years because the Principal Jane Ashley-Emile and members of her family have been supported by Tapping House in the past.

She said: 'This year's total was an amazing amount for us to raise and we are delighted to be supporting the Seahorse Appeal.'

In Downham Market, members of the town's rotary club and Hilgay Raft Race committee gathered at the charity's shop in Wales Court on Saturday to hand over a cheque for �2,300.

The money was collected during and after the race day in Hilgay in July and the cheque presentation was timed to link in with the appeal.

In Sheringham, the town's golf club hosted a charity day to raise money for The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House and a cheque for �1,240 has been sent to the charity.

The Seahorse Appeal has also been boosted by West Winch resident Hayley Sanctuary who raised �530 following a skydive in Beccles.

Looking ahead, the next big fundraising event for The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House is a cycle ride around Snettisham on Sunday, which starts at the charity's current hospice in Common Road (West) at 10am.

There will then be a book sale at Hilgay Village Hall from 10am to 4pm on October 14 to raise money for the charity and the appeal.

Meanwhile, Tapping House fundraising manager and Taverham resident Jackie Cameron hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for the campaign after signing her son up for a skydive in October.

Harry Cameron had no idea what his mum had done until he opened his presents on his 17th birthday on Saturday.

Jackie said: 'Harry had been nagging me for a year about doing a tandem jump, I decided if he was old enough to get behind the wheel of a car then he must be old enough to jump out of a plane.'