Our homes put the icing on the cake for Macmillan

Our homes are huge supporters of the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning and this year is no exception, with performances, quizzes, music – and more mysterious golden cupcakes – than ever

All our homes across the region raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support’s biggest fundraising event, which this year takes place on Friday September 30.

Here residents iced cakes in preparation for an afternoon tea party with games such as How many Sweets in the Jar? and Name the Animal.

Resident Barbara Rivette, a former nurse from Essex, was happy to get involved.

She said: “As a nurse I would sit with cancer patients during the night. I was also a Marie Curie nurse for a period.

“It’s wonderful to be part of the Macmillan Coffee Morning events as they do so much to help cancer patients and their families and also fund cancer nurses.”

At Outstanding rated Kingfishers in New Milton residents are holding a cake sale and enjoying music by visiting performer Retro Rita.

While at Outstanding rated Amberwood House in Ferndown, companions and residents have been getting crafty before the coffee morning creating banners and bunting with messages to loved ones who need support, to those they have lost and to the Macmillan nurses.

Amberwood House is also inviting family and friends of residents and members of the local community in for a coffee afternoon in the garden. Residents have been baking cakes for the occasion and entertainer Nigel Revill will play a concert.

Over at The Aldbury in Poole residents are having a coffee morning with a vinyl music singalong, a staff mufti day and a quiz. At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth there is a cake sale. And at Bourne View in Poole they are inviting members of their regular customer support advisors’ breakfast meeting to join in their coffee morning.

As with all Colten homes a golden cupcake is also being hidden somewhere amongst the sweet treats, with its lucky finder winning a special prize.

Outstanding rated Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst and Belmore Lodge in Lymington have really raised the bar this year. The two homes have been working with Colten Care’s Music & Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard for over a month on a hilarious fundraising show.

Being performed in the garden at Woodpeckers, residents and staff are entertaining each other with jokes, short stories, dancing and singing. Also attending are members of Brockenhurst & Sway Friday Club, which offers friendship for local people who would like some company. Cakes are also being sold for Macmillan after the performance.

Elaine Farrer, Chief Operating Officer for Colten Care, said: “The Macmillan Coffee Morning has become a much-loved part of the annual events calendar here at Colten as it centres on three of our favourite things: welcoming our loved ones and the local community into our homes, having fun raising money for a great cause – and eating delicious cakes!”