Check out our latest magazine... Read Online

Have a Macmillan Coffee Morning!

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:00

By Adele Trathan

With this year’s Coffee Morning just around the corner on Friday 27 September, Adele Trathan speaks to Macmillan Cancer Support, who are calling on supporters to get involved again

Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning is their biggest  fundraising event of the year and last year raised over £18 Morning is their biggest fundraising event of the year and last year raised over £18 million, enough to fund 288 Macmillan nurses for a year.

Someone is diagnosed with cancer in the UK at least every 90 seconds on average, and two in three people in the UK (64%) either have close family or close friends living with cancer or have been diagnosed with cancer themselves. The need for Macmillan’s support services therefore has never been greater.

The first Macmillan Coffee Morning was held in 1990 and over the years, the way fundraisers hold coffee mornings has changed. Starting from the simple idea of guests gathering and donating the cost of their coffee to Macmillan, people up and down the country have since thought of ever more novel ways to get people together.

Whether it’s shop-bought cake and biscuits with tea or a chai afternoon, a ‘barks and bakes’ dog walk or a kitchen disco in the office – at home or in the workplace, any time of the day, any day of the week, people can do Coffee Morning ‘their way’ – Coffee Morning is for everyone. Whether it’s a big or small affair, all the money raised will continue helping people with cancer live life as fully as they can.

Lisa Hammond from Bexhill-on- sea has been hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning for over ten years with her friend Pauline Canham and the support of friends, family and the local community. They held their first outside her beach hut in 2014 and it’s now become a ‘community event’, raising over £19,000 to help support people living with cancer.

Lisa said, “I would encourage anyone thinking of hosting a coffee morning to get involved. It feels so good to give something back and it’s a great opportunity to get friends, neighbours, and colleagues together. People often thank us for what we‘re doing as they’ve been supported by Macmillan themselves and we can’t wait to see everyone again this year.

“My mum sadly passed away from cancer whilst we were on the list for a beach hut, so when we got one, we thought it would be fitting to hold a Macmillan Coffee Morning there in her memory. That’s where it all started.

A few years later, as it rained so much, we relocated to the shelter on the promenade to escape and haven’t looked back. More people can see us, and access is better, so it’s worked really well. It’s become a community event with locals asking us when we are hosting and ‘regulars’ coming along every year. Even the mayor often pops by!

“It really is a team effort. Local businesses donate many of the ingredients we use to bake cakes and biscuits, as well as gifts for the raffle, and we couldn’t do it without everyone who helps on the day.

“Ironically, I was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago, but I was more determined than ever to go ahead with the coffee morning. Pauline has been there right from the start and has also had cancer herself, so Macmillan is a cause close to both of us as they were there for us when we needed them.

“My Macmillan nurse was a godsend and really had my back. She was there through all the stressful times when appointments were cancelled, providing reassurance. I was also directed to all the different kinds of support out there like complementary therapies and counselling. I can’t praise them enough.”

Lisa and Pauline’s coffee morning takes place on Saturday 21 September at West Parade, Bexhill-on-sea from 10.30am until everything goes. Everyone is welcome to drop by.


To find out more about hosting a Coffee Morning or to receive your free fundraising kit visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee-morning

For anyone concerned about cancer or their care, call the Macmillan Support Line: 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk

Share

More from People

  • Hailsham House: More Than Just Care, It’s Home

    We asked Helen Stockton to visit Hailsham House Care Home, she discovered a place where the focus is on creating a warm, welcoming place to call home

  • Age UK East Sussex Needs You!

    Age UK East Sussex is looking for more volunteers, Rachel Kelly from the charity explains how the role often gives a sense of personal reward and comfort through helping others

  • Parkers Car & Truck Rental Celebrate 75 Years

    There’s a reason Parkers Car and Truck Rental are celebrating their 75th birthday, it’s because they excel at what they do, so Robert Veitch went to visit and learn more about the vehicle rental market

  • "I quite like to end up with a setlist that involves a catalogue of human misery..." Nish Kumar on his return to stand-up comedy

    With a brand new stand-up tour coming to the UK later this year, including a number of shows in Sussex, we talk to comedian and TV present Nish Kumar about his time on The Mash Report, getting pelted with bread rolls at gigs, and why he always looks forward to playing shows in smaller towns...

  • Pure Inspiration

    Newly opened in Haywards Heath, Inspiration Gift Shop has the perfect present for every occasion. Hanna Prince pays owner Rachel Taylor a visit to find out more

  • Creating a Dream at The Pauline Quirke Academy

    With performing arts known to play a leading role in helping children to develop many valuable life skills, we asked Lisa de Silva to meet with Florence Tingley and Rebecca Goffin to find out more about the local Pauline Quirke Academies

  • A Little Slice of Heaven

    Farming, food and leisure are the three cornerstones of Heaven Farm, where you will find all three in abundance, including the newly refurbished Butler’s Pantry. Sara Whatley reports

  • Charity: Institute for Cancer Research

    The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is striving to improve the lives of people with all types of cancer – including those with the most challenging to treat. Scientist Dr Anguraj Sadanandam explains why support for this research is vital

  • Volunteer for Motor Neurone Disease Association

    The Motor Neurone Disease Association is a charity that was established in 1979 to raise awareness, campaign for better care and support for people diagnosed with MND and their families, as Lisa Burnard from the charity explains

  • Riding to Success

    Not a coffee morning kind of couple, Alison and Henry are soon embarking on an ambitious UK tour on their 1960s scooters, all to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. Sara Whatley finds out more

  • Step out for St Catherine’s Hospice

    St Catherine’s Hospice popular Midnight Walk is bouncing back to the streets of Horsham on Saturday 8 June, Adele Trathan explains how readers can get involved

  • Homes for Ukraine: Opening Your Home and Your Heart

    As the conflict in the Ukraine continues, Homes for Ukraine scheme is still keen to hear from people that are interested in hosting a Ukrainian guest, as Paul Crompton from East Sussex County Council explains

  • The Joy of the Repair Café

    Volunteers are central to the success of Repair Cafés across Sussex, so we sent Nicola Coughlin along to Lindfield Repair Cafe to talk to volunteers about their valuable contribution

  • An Unlikely Retirement

    Hove resident Sylvia Holder tells Sara Whatley the inspiring story of how she set up her charity, The Venkat Trust, when she should have been kicking back in her retirement

  • Matters of the Heart

    Jason Palmer, Volunteer Trustee and Director of The Sussex Heart Charity explains what this award winning charity do to save lives in Sussex

  • Rushfields: Celebrating 40 Years

    As Rushfields Plant Centre in Poynings gears up to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, James Forryan talked to founders Colin and Kathryn Langridge about the keys to their longevity and what they’ve learned over their 40 years in business

  • Interview: Comedian Connor Burns brings his Vertigo tour to Sussex

    With his new touring show Vertigo about to arrive in Sussex, we talk to Scottish comedian Connor Burns

  • A Double Dose: Interview with Michael Mosley and Clare Bailey

    Husband and wife health gurus Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey are on a mission to bring healthy eating and living to the masses. They talk to Sara Whatley about their upcoming tour and the health benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet...

  • You've Got a Friend

    Mid Sussex charity Befriended has grown so much since it’s beginnings in 2017. Gail Miller tells Sara Whatley what they have been up to

  • Charity: Community Transport Sussex

    Community Transport Sussex is an unlikely hero, but one that plays a crucial role in connecting local communities, Marie Claire Macintosh explains more about this valuable service

© Sussex Living and Aiir 2024 | Unit 4 Regent Business Centre, 6 Jubilee Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9TL