A special fundraising event will take place in the Chairman’s Room at the Guildhall in Bath on Friday 28th September, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
As part of the annual Macmillan fundraising event, the Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council has decided to open the Chairman’s Room for the morning to offer tea, coffee and cake for the worthy cause.
Cllr Karen Walker (Independent) was elected to the local authority in May 2015, and has been active in community life for the past decade.
Karen, who grew up in Peasedown St John, lost both her parents to cancer so knows firsthand what impact the disease can have on those that have it, and on their friends and family too.
Cllr Walker said: “Raising awareness of life changing illnesses such as cancer is something I care passionately about.
“Over 350,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, all of whom have a personal story to tell. Most of them will need care, which is why supporting organisations like Macmillan is paramount, especially when they strive to ensure that independence and personal dignity are retained when looking after someone with cancer.”
Karen’s parents lived in Frederick Avenue, Peasedown St John, for many years before passing away.
Her mother Joan died in 2000, and her father Lloyd three years later in 2003. Lloyd was an active member of Peasedown Methodist Church and has a bench dedicated to him on church grounds for his voluntary work.
Karen added: “The number of people living with cancer in the UK is increasing by 3.2% every year, with a staggering 2.5 million people now currently living with the illness.
“The positive news though is the number of cancer survivors in the UK is projected to increase by approximately one million per decade from 2010 to 2040; resulting in four million living with cancer by 2030.
“By 2020, almost one in two people (47%) will get cancer at some point in their lives or have died from it – which means events like those coordinated by Macmillan are even more important for us to attend and support.
“Cancer affects all of us at some point in our lives.”
Macmillan Cancer Support’s September coffee events are all about asking people across the UK – and sometimes further afield – to invite people around for coffee where donations on the day are made to Macmillan.
In 2017, 250,000 people took part and raised a record breaking £29.5 million.
This year they want to raise even more money to help change the lives of people affected by cancer.
Cllr Karen Walker’s Open Coffee Morning for Macmillan will take place at The Guildhall, High Street, Chairmans Room, Bath, BA1 5AW on Friday 28th September from 10.30pm – 12.30pm.
All are welcome to attend.