Cakes and coffee bring crowds to Croydon University Hospital raising thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support
4 October 2017
The biggest and most successful fundraising Coffee Morning at Croydon University Hospital raises thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support Charity.
Patients, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors at Croydon Health Services joined together to raise £3,410 and counting for Macmillan Cancer Support charity, during the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event on Friday 29 September. This was the most amount of money raised in the 10 year history of holding this event at the Trust.
Cakes, cookies and other sweet treats were enjoyed by visitors to Croydon University Hospital as the Trust also embarked on finding it’s ‘Star Baker’ during their ‘Great Croydon Bake Off’ baking competition.
The event saw a variety of culinary contributions from patients, staff, volunteers and contractors, who donated their cakes to raise money for the national charity, which provides care and support for people with cancer.
Over 100 people attended the event. Among the guests were the Trust’s non-executive director, Dr James Gillgrass and his wife Mary, who sampled a variety of baked goods as they judged the ‘Great Croydon Bake Off’. Victoria Maidens, who works in the Trust’s Project Management Office was crowned ’Star Baker’ with her mouth-watering chocolate M&M cake.
The event included a charity auction with prizes such as a 60 minute flying lesson and relaxing hand massages. Further stands raising funds for the charity included a stall with hand-drawn cartoons by local 87 year old cartoonist Robin Ollington. Doctors and nurses at the Trust were also on hand to give cancer information and advice to visitors.
Now in it’s 27th year, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is one of Macmillan’s most popular fundraising events. Macmillan Cancer Support work in partnership with Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, to provide care and support for cancer patients at the Trust.
Event organiser and Macmillan Cancer Centre Manager, Benny Millier said: “This year’s Coffee Morning was a fantastic success and was our most successful event to date. Visitors had the chance to enjoy some wonderful cakes baked. A lady who happened to be in the hospital that morning even popped home to bake some lovely cupcakes, to support the cause that same day.
“I would like to thank everybody that contributed towards the event being a great success. A good amount of money has been raised for Macmillan. The money will be used to support cancer patients and fund additional health and social care professional roles to further improve our care at Croydon University Hospital.”
Michael Fanning, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at Croydon Health Services added:
“We provide excellent cancer care at the Trust in partnership with Macmillan, as evidenced in the latest National Cancer Patient Survey, where we scored better than the national average. We are always keen to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, and of the care we provide at Croydon University Hospital, to help you fight the illness and to support our patients and their families.
“Macmillan Cancer Support relies on the generosity of the public to continue their good work, which means that events like these remain as important as ever.”
As well as thanking our patients, volunteers and staff, we would also like to thank all organisations that contributed towards the success of the morning, including Galiford-Try, Compass Group, M&S and Costa Coffee at CHS and Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre.
Photo caption: Pictured on the day of the Coffee Morning are ‘Star Baker’ winner Victoria Maidens, from our Project Management Office, (centre right) Great Croydon Bake Off judges Dr James Gillgrass, Non-Executive Director at CHS and his wife Mary (left) and Juliet Kenny, Deputy Director of Transformation at CHS