Raise money for a good cause while eating and drinking (From Knutsford Guardian)

Raise money for a good cause while eating and drinking

5:30pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

SEVENTY people in Knutsford are needed to help raise over £10.7m – by drinking coffee and eating cake.

Macmillan Cancer Support wants this year’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning to be the biggest ever after 30 people in Knutsford took part last year raising around £6,000.

So far 50 coffee mornings are set to take place across the Knutsford area. The charity is hoping more coffee mornings will take place, raising £9,000.

Across the UK Macmillan hopes to raise a massive £10.7m from the event, beating its £10m total from last year.

Macmillan’s fundraising manager for Cheshire, Sarah Page, said: “Last year we raised a record-breaking amount of money form the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and we really hope we can repeat that again this year.

“I think it’s a mark of how much people love this event that every year it gets bigger and bigger.

“People can be so busy, that catching up with friends, workmates or even family can be difficult.

“This event gives them a reason to make time for each other while also doing something really valuable for people with cancer and their families.”

While the event has traditionally involved people having straightforward coffee mornings, people in Knutsford have expanded the event to include wine tasting evenings and quiz nights.

Fundraiser Sarah Page believes the flexibility of the event is another reason it’s so successful.

She said: “We give all our hosts a fundraising pack and lots of ideas but whether they choose to have a coffee morning on the official event day, a cocktail evening at the weekend or a quiz event the week after is up to them.

“We want people to do something they enjoy with people they want to spend time with while raising some money for Macmillan.

“Sadly the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is increasing every year and that means Macmillan’s support for people living with cancer is in more demand than ever.

“Every pound raised by those taking part in events like World’s Biggest Coffee Morning helps us be there for someone with cancer when they need us most.”

The official World’s Biggest Coffee Morning day is on September 28. To find out more visit macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 602 1246.