Plea to support Macmillan coffee mornings in Derbyshire after 'staggering' drop in support

Derbyshire residents raised £300,500 from holding Macmillan coffee mornings last year – with £34,200 raised in Chesterfield alone.

However, against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people planning to hold an event in the county has fallen by almost three quarters in 2020.

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Macmillan says it comes at a time when people affected by cancer ‘need their services more than ever’, with delays in cancer waiting times and diagnoses.

Sue Sanderson, Macmillan partnership manager for Derbyshire, said there has ‘never been a more terrifying time in recent history to receive a cancer diagnosis’ with disruption and delays to treatment and fears of increased risk of becoming infected with coronavirus.

“A huge 98 per cent of Macmillan’s income is from donations and events like Coffee Morning,” Sue said.

"While it can’t take place in exactly the same way as before this year, there are still lots of ways to get involved.

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“At Macmillan we’re facing a possible tsunami of demand coming towards us this autumn, as the cancer system gets moving again and the backlog of delayed diagnoses begins to be dealt with.

"Worryingly this increased need for support would come at a time when our fundraised income has dropped significantly.

“We’re facing the hardest year in our 109-year history. It’s no exaggeration to say Macmillan and people with cancer have never needed the public’s help more than we do right now.”

The picture is similar across the UK, with early figures showing sign-ups for coffee mornings are down by around two-thirds.

Macmillan is encouraging people to take part in any way they can, from having a socially distanced coffee morning safely from their doorstep to setting up a virtual event online.

More active residents can also sign up for the first ever Coffee Morning Challenge, tackling a run, walk or cycle to raise cash.

Social media lovers are being urging people to take a selfie raising a mug for people living with cancer, while making a donation.

To sign up, visit coffee.macmillan.org.uk

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