- Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, will mark the 30th anniversary of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning by hosting a virtual coffee morning via Zoom across the constituency on Friday 25th September.
- Alexander Stafford MP has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament to mark the anniversary, applauding that nothing stops a Macmillan Coffee Morning, not even coronavirus, and recognising Macmillan’s campaign to prevent cancer from becoming the forgotten ‘c’ of the pandemic.
Friday 25th September marks 30 years of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. The charity fundraiser usually sees millions of pounds donated every year to help support people affected by cancer.
Through their fundraising efforts, Macmillan and their supporters raise money for vital services like the 6,400 famous Macmillan Nurses and their free support line, that makes sure people with cancer can get the physical, emotional and financial support they need.
The national cancer charity relies on donations for 98 % of its income and is now facing the hardest year in is 109-year existence due to coronavirus. Its principal event, the annual coffee morning, is facing a staggering 71% income drop of £20 million. A fundraising fall of this magnitude could risk more than 80,000 cancer patients missing out on vital support next year.
That is why Alexander Stafford MP will mark the anniversary of one of the UK’s longest-running charity fundraising events, and show his support for the 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, by hosting a virtual coffee morning across Rother Valley on Friday 25th September.
The event will take place via Zoom and a link will be provided to a unique fundraising page through which any donations can be made.
Commenting, Alexander Stafford MP said:
“Macmillan Cancer Support is out there in our communities, offering personal, one-to-one care and support to people living with cancer and to their loved ones, and that’s why I am raising a mug and supporting them by hosting a coffee morning.”
“Like so many other things at the moment, coronavirus is presenting a huge challenge to charities like Macmillan and it is having a worrying impact on the amount of money that is being raised.”
“I’m proud to have tabled the Early Day Motion in Parliament to show my support for the event and help let people know that while it might be different, virtual and socially distanced this year, the world’s biggest coffee morning is still going ahead.”
“There couldn’t be an easier or more fun way to raise money for people with cancer – people, who in the current crisis, need the support of their local communities more than ever before.”
Commenting, Steven McIntosh, Head of Policy, Campaigns and Influencing at Macmillan Cancer Support said:
“Between the disruption caused to testing and treatment and the fear of increased risk of becoming infected with coronavirus, there has never been a more worrying time in recent history to receive a cancer diagnosis.”
“At Macmillan we are determined to be there for everyone affected by cancer, but it is safe to say we are facing the hardest year in our 109-year history.”
“We know the demand for our services is huge – there is the continued challenge of coronavirus, and as the cancer care system moves again, we can expect to see a significant backlog of people who desperately need our support.”
“This demand for our services will come at a time when we are experiencing a dramatic and sustained drop in our income, 98% of which comes from events like our coffee morning.”
“It’s no exaggeration to say Macmillan and people with cancer have never needed the public’s help more than we do right now.”