Turning the town green at Bedford River Festival

Sue and John have deeply personal reasons for supporting Macmillan. Cancer has affected both their families and close friends. Sadly, both their Dads died from cancer, while Sue’s Mum and 3 close friends had breast cancer, one of whom lost their life to the illness. Two of Sue’s uncles and John’s son have also had cancer.

“Having experienced the impact of cancer so closely, we feel a strong determination to raise as much as we can for Macmillan,” says Sue. “We want to help ensure that people living with cancer, and those going through a cancer diagnosis, receive the vital support and care they need at what is an incredibly difficult time for them and their families.”

John previously worked for Macmillan for many years and knows first-hand about the vital work which happens to make sure nobody faces cancer alone. Since they began fundraising for Macmillan in 2002, they have raised over a staggering £400,000. Sue was also awarded a BEM for her charity work.

After more than 2 decades of fundraising, Sue and John have plenty of advice to share:

Sue's tips

• Build relationships with local independent businesses - they’re often keen to support community fundraising, and you can promote their involvement.
• Reuse suppliers and local businesses that support you each year.
• Consider raffles and other fundraising activities and ask people to donate prizes.

John's tips

• Plan ahead and involve friends and family. Encourage volunteers to bring their own friends and family too.
• Choose events that suit your group’s interests - host a curry night at a local restaurant and have a raffle if you love food or organise a golf day if that’s what you enjoy.
• If your event relies on attendees, ask people to pay in advance where possible to reduce no-shows.
• If it’s your first event, keep it manageable and choose something you’ll enjoy. The more you do, the easier it becomes.

View more fundraising tips

Sue and John are already planning their next fundraising challenge. After hosting 10 Halloween Balls, they decided to end these in 2025. They are now moving onto some new ideas such as a cocktail event, taking over a cocktail bar, and a golf day or a race night.

Their favourite part of Bedford River Festival comes after the hard work when they count the weekend’s fundraising total.

“Monday is a particularly exciting moment,” says Sue. “Although everyone helping works incredibly hard, there is a lot of fun, lots of laughter and great teamwork. It has become such a part of our lives that our family and friends put the date in their diaries months ahead; they almost love it as much as we do!”