Sarah's Health Notes: Host a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support

All of us who’ve been involved with friends or family with cancer knows how important Macmillan is. They offer so much. A Support Helpline (0300 1000 200), and a benefits advice service. Online support at macmillan.org.uk. Information and support centres where patients can talk through problems with specialist staff and trained volunteers. Health and wellbeing events. And the amazing health professionals who look after patients at all stages.

I will always remember the Macmillan nurse who cared for one of my closest friends in her last hours. ‘Go on talking to her,’ the nurse told me. ‘She can hear you.’ I trusted my friend could also hear her 13-year old daughter giggling outside the bedroom door as she read out (eye boggling) snippets from her teen-zines. I know several others who have benefitted from being looked after beautifully at home by Macmillan nurses.

There’s still time to join in the official event date for hosting a Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning on Friday 30th September. But if that doesn't work, any date that works for you is perfect!

There’s masses of information and tips there. And if you don’t fancy baking (though you might with the recipes from Betty Crocker), there are lots of options. If you’re near a Marks & Spencer, you might be tempted to buy a bespoke Macmillan Colin the Caterpillar cake. Costa Coffee are also inviting people to meet in stores, with 10% of the proceeds going to Macmillan.

So whether you’re at home or in a workplace, college or village, do please set aside an hour for coffee and cake to support Macmillan. That’s not too hard, is it?