Scotland's leading cancer support charity is urging people across the country to help them celebrate the 18th birthday of its largest fundraising event.
Macmillan Cancer Support wants thousands of people to take part in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning to help raise almost £800,000 for people affected by cancer living in Scotland.
And, as the event is 18 years old, the charity are urging Scots to think about hosting glamorous coffee cocktail evenings or coffee parties as well as traditional coffee mornings.
Director of Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said:
'We want people across Scotland to help us celebrate the 18th birthday of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning by holding a coffee-themed event of their own – whether they have a traditional coffee morning or a glamorous cocktail evening.
'Everyone who takes part will help us raise the money we need to provide vital local cancer services – and they'll also have a great time. Our coffee morning hosts always really enjoy their event. I'm sure this is one of the reasons it's still so popular after 18-years!'
Macmillan's drive for coffee morning hosts comes just weeks after new research revealed that two million people in the UK are currently living with and after cancer – 800,000 more than was previously thought. That means Macmillan's services, from doctors and nurses, to benefits advice projects, grants and carers' schemes, are more necessary than ever before.
Last year, more than 3050 people in Scotland held a coffee morning for Macmillan, raising over £750,000 for the charity. But this year Macmillan are hoping even more people will take part.
Elspeth added:
'We constantly need to raise money to fund our services and I think the reason coffee morning is our most popular fundraiser is that people can tailor the event to suit them.
'For example although our official coffee morning day is September 26, we don't mind if someone wants to hold a coffee morning at another time. We don't mind what kind of event our supporters hold either. Some hosts just invite a few friends round for coffee, others organise huge events at their workplace.
'Last year we had lots of traditional coffee mornings in church halls and schools, while some supporters organised day-long family fun events, glamorous coffee cocktail parties, and night time coffee evenings with live music. There's no right or wrong way to take part – so register now and help us support people with cancer in Scotland.'
To register to host a coffee morning visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 602 1246, quoting RNA15.
For more information, or to organise an interview with someone from Macmillan, contact Michelle Gallacher on 0131 260 3720 or on mgallacher@macmillan.org.uk.