Wonston Community Café raises £500 for Blood Cancer UK

Wonston Community Café dedicated its October event to Blood Cancer UK (BCUK), an annual tradition since volunteer Barbara Harvey lost her husband to acute myeloid leukaemia eight years ago.

The café, on October 19, raised £500 for the charity, thanks to its visitors, including its oldest and youngest guests aged 99 and a two-and-a-half-week-old baby, and some generous donations.

Barbara said: “There has been an ever-growing community atmosphere at the café since our move to the Victoria Hall post-lockdown and it lifted my spirits hugely to know that with everyone’s support this month we raised a record £500 for BCUK.

"Fundraising makes a real impact in the fight to beat blood cancer, and with one in 19 in the UK being diagnosed, it’s a fight we will continue.”

READ MORE: Wonston Community Café prepares for annual Blood Cancer UK fundraiser

Mrs Harvey also rallies her aqua class together, to wear Halloween accessories during their session, to keep fundraising for Blood Cancer UK.

Following the class on Friday, October 28, Barbara said: “We ladies at the Norton Park Aqua class, many of whom also regularly support the Community Café, donned a fabulous variety of Halloween headgear in the pool, and afterwards at our coffee morning raised a further £200 for BCUK. Heartfelt thanks to all those who took part or donated from me and also on behalf of BCUK."

The next Wonston Community Café will be open on Wednesday, November 16 from 9.30am until midday at Victoria Hall in Sutton Scotney. The November café will be raising money for Canine Partners, which aims to support disabled people with assistance dogs.

The date of the December instalment, in support of Myeloma UK, has been changed to Wednesday, December 14.

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The volunteer ran café provides homemade cakes, coffee and free parking.