Cancer Society marketing and communications manager Chris Green said about 700 people volunteered in Dunedin for the annual Daffodil Day street appeal.
Hundreds of people also volunteered in regional parts of Otago, including eight prisoners at the Otago Corrections Facility.
Prison director Lyndal Miles said inmates involved in the prison's catering and hospitality trade training programme baked goods for a fundraising stall in Milton.
``The Cancer Society means a great deal to people.
``In one way or another, cancer affects the lives of everyone in New Zealand and the men in the prison are no exception to this.''
Principal instructor Sally Scott said the baked goods were a nice change from the standard prison fare the men made.
``The men revel in opportunities like this to create baking that they don't get to do in the prison and show off their new-found skills to the public.''
The Dunedin Cancer Society was a hive of activity all day as volunteers rushed in and out to collect more of 4000 available daffodils to sell.
Fifty-five schools across Otago also held events for the Cancer Society.
