In 1990 a small local campaign was started to encourage people to donate the cost of their morning coffee to Macmillan Cancer Support and 26 years on almost £140 million has been raised in this way to fight the scourge of cancer. From a couple of hundred thousand pounds raised in the first national campaign to £25 million expected from this year’s efforts, the annual world’s biggest coffee morning event has come a long way, and, more importantly, has helped to support many, many cancer sufferers as a result.
We have, of course, run coffee morning events before – hiring out church halls and inviting the residents and staff of local nursing homes to join us for cake, coffee and games, for a lovely morning out – but this was the first one dedicated to Macmillan, and I have to say it was a resounding success.
Everyone got involved – the ladies from the office baked some deliciously soft and scrumptious cakes and uber-crunchy biscuits, and invitations went out to all of our carers, staff, management, and in fact to everyone in our building, from a wide variety of firms. We wanted everyone to be involved, and for everyone to have fun.
People started to arrive at 11am and for three hours invitees came and went, relaxing over a cuppa and a slice of Victoria sponge or a choc chip cookie (or two, or three, yes – you know who you were). It was a great social exercise for our team, and our wider local community, and certainly something we plan to do again.
Special mention should go to our ex-training manager Katrina who despite deciding to follow a different path and train to become a nurse, still dedicated her all to making this coffee morning happen – walking up and down our building with Ashley, handing out leaflets promoting the event, putting up bunting and blowing up balloons. Congratulations should also be heaped on Drashna, one of our lovely carers, whose delicious, delicate and oh-so pretty iced cupcakes unanimously won the ANA Nursing and Macmillan Coffee Morning Best Cake Award 2016.
By 2pm we had raised a very credible £200, including a contribution from ANA Nursing as a company, and with smiles on our faces and some very full tummies everyone left saying how much fun they’d had.
The statistic that one in every three people in the UK will get cancer at some point* in their lives is well-known, but it is only when you stop and really think about it that this becomes more than just numbers – it becomes truly scary. Cancer touches family, friends and loved ones, it is indiscriminate in its cruelty, and far-reaching in its impact. Its effect on both sufferers and those around them can be devastating, but there is hope. This hope comes in the form of advances towards a cure for numerous cancers, and in the support that organisations such as Macmillan offer to those with cancer and those who already care for them.
As we tidied up after our coffee morning we felt a deep sense of pride for doing something to help. And we raised more than just money – we also raised awareness and forged a determination to help beat this illness that takes all too many lives each year. Well done team.
*From the MacMillan website