The kettles are on and the cakes are in the oven as Colten Care’s 21 care homes across the south get set for fun at this week’s Macmillan Coffee Morning.
Residents, relatives, friends and community contacts are all invited to the annual fundraiser designed to help people cope with the impact of a cancer diagnosis.
Chefs at each home have been busy putting their traditional Willy Wonka-style twist on proceedings, adding a ‘Golden Cupcake’ to their freshly prepared selections of cakes and pastries.
It contains a hidden layer of edible gold leaf or cherry, with the lucky recipient set to win a bottle of bubbly as a prize.
Among the homes welcoming community friends in for the occasion is Avon Reach in Mudeford, Dorset.
Team members there will host a visit by the Truth Be Told storytelling and pre-school play group.
Denise Marks, Companionship Team Leader at Avon Reach, said: “Residents and team members really enjoy welcoming friends and contacts and of course helping good causes.
“The Macmillan Coffee Morning is a fantastic community initiative that brings people together, raises awareness of Macmillan’s work and generates donations. And our golden cupcakes add a definite talking point.”
At Brook View in West Moors, staff will dress in the Macmillan colours of green and purple ready for a fun day of games.
Guests at the Coffee Morning at Amberwood House in Ferndown will be invited to guess the ‘number of teacups in the photo’ and ‘how many humbugs are in the jar’.
At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, there will be a talk on the work of Macmillan to put the reason for the Coffee Morning into context for residents.
Colten’s three Lymington homes Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and Linden House will also be taking part.
Other homes opening their doors to families and community friends are: Canford Chase, The Aldbury and Bourne View in Poole; Kingfishers in New Milton; Avon Cliff in Bournemouth; Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst; Braemar Lodge in Salisbury; Abbey View,
Castle View and Newstone House in West Dorset; Whitecliffe House in Blandford; Fernhill in Longham; Wellington Grange in Chichester; and St Catherines View in Winchester.
The annual coffee fundraiser, now in its 34th year, is dedicated to bringing people together over a cuppa to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
According to the charity, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer every 90 seconds and one in two people will face the disease at some point in their lifetime.
Proceeds from the Macmillan Coffee Morning help to give those affected by cancer emotional, financial and clinical support.
This year’s national Coffee Morning day is Friday 27 September, but supporters can choose to hold a get-together on any day they choose. For more information on Macmillan Cancer Support, visit https://macmillan.org.uk/
