Stories from Coffee Morning 2024
Over 50,000 Coffee Mornings were held across the UK last year. From first time hosts to experienced veterans, dips in the sea to community gatherings, each Coffee Morning made an impact in the lives of people living with cancer.
Read stories from last years hosts - and get inspired for Coffee Morning your way this year!
Unique Coffee Mornings
"I hosted an afternoon 'tea, sea and tiaras' for my husband who has cancer of the peritoneum and on his third round of chemotherapy. My local swimming group were on board supplying all the baked goods and helping man the stall. Our local beach café let us hold it there and we were so busy. We even managed to get in a sea swim in our tiaras."
- Carol
"As a family we hosted 'Koffee in Kenmore' event to help raise funds for Macmillan and awareness of cancer. Sadly, in the last couple of years we have lost some of our closest and dearest family members to the disease, as I'm sure many families have too. We want to do something for them all, especially after all the help and support we have had from Macmillan. We raised over £2400!
"We last held ‘Tea in the Tunnel’ in 2009 in memory of my Gran which was a great success and wanted to do something again but a bit different. We had a tombola and plant stall outside. Cake and card stall inside."
- Kirstie
Coffee Mornings at work
Andrea
"My husband's brother died from cancer last year at just 63. The Macmillan nurses took such a great care of him, and my husband promised his brother that he would raise funds for the amazing charity. I didn't fancy running a marathon or sky diving, but as we own a little coffee shop in Cornwall, we thought that a Coffee Morning would be the best thing to do.
"We organised a raffle, sold treat boxes, received kind donations and ran a 'guess the amount of coffee cups' competition. We also donated all the profits made that day - and we are pleased to say we raised over £700. We loved how our community came together for the event with raffle prize donations, children colour bunting to decorate our coffee shop and the support on the day itself."
Dawn
"I have hosted Coffee Mornings since 2018. Each year they have become better and better. Last year was the best yet! We raised over £1000 through cash and online donations. I host because it is good to get colleagues together that don't often see each other, and I love baking! I lost my mother-in-law to cancer and she loved a Coffee Morning so I will continue to host and remember her when I do."
Naz
"As a homecare company we have clients who have been affected by cancer in some way and we wanted to help raise funds for a worthy cause. Cancer has also directly affected family and friends. The event brought people together to enjoy each other's company whilst chatting about how this disease has impacted our lives."
Community Coffee Mornings
Hosting a Coffee Morning in your community is a great way to bring your neighbours, friends and those you care about together. With their help and involvement, you can make a difference. From baking cakes to donating raffle prizes, setting up the venue to spreading the word - make it collaborative.
"Our local village hall committee asked if I would like to organise this years Macmillan Coffee Morning fundraiser in the hall.
"I was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and have been accessing Macmillan's support since my diagnosis, so I was honoured to be asked.
"I asked my dear friend Sezto to help me and together we organised over 100 prizes for the raffle and tombola and arranged for 6 local crafters to join as stallholders. We rallied round local residents to cook cakes for us and got 8 volunteers to man the Macmillan stalls for the event.
"We were proud to raise over £15000 from our event."
- Denise
Returning hosts
"My sister-in-law and I do this every year and it's such an amazing charity which has helped a number of our friends and family, especially my mother-in-law who we lost to cancer 8 years ago."
-Sally
"6 years ago I had surgery for ovarian cancer. During chemotherapy treatment, I decided that I would host a Coffee Morning. My friend who supported me throughout treatment and sat with me for 8 hours during each session wanted to do it with me. We are both big bakers and last year was our 5th Coffee Morning."
- Janet
"We held our forth Coffee Morning in September last year to continue our fundraising. We have raised over £15,000 for Macmillan since 202l which has included a 35 mile walk and taking part in a Mighty Hike. Our son Tom was diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer and sadly died in March 2021 at the age of 35. Macmillan nurses were incredible during Tom's last few days allowing him to die at home with dignity. We will continue raising funds as long as we can."
- Janey
In memory
"I wanted to help raise money in memory of my hero, my dad, who sadly died from pancreatic cancer October 2023. It's been a hard time without him, so I wanted to do something positive in his honour. The Macmillan team were great supporting my Dad and us when we needed it the most."
- Irene
Join us for Coffee Morning this September
Coffee Morning returns on Friday 26 September. Gather your friends, family and loved ones together to hold a Coffee Morning and make a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer.
If you can't host, use our postcode search to discover Coffee Mornings near to you or make a donation to help us continue to provide vital support.
