Fundraising with my daughters has helped us turn loss into action
Karen and her 2 daughters have been holding Afternoon Teas since 2014 in memory of their late auntie.
We take part to honour my auntie, Christine’s memory
She was just 56 years old when we lost her to breast cancer – only 9 years older than me. She was more like a sister than an aunt and losing her was devastating.
It’s a loss that has stayed with us ever since
That same year we lost my auntie, I saw a post on Facebook about holding an Afternoon Tea to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. It felt like the right way to honour my auntie’s memory as a family.
On the morning of our first event, we went strawberry picking at a local fruit farm. Later that day, we served the freshly picked strawberries with cream and meringue.
We raised just over £450 and were over the moon. And little did we know that this small event would grow year on year, becoming something friends and family genuinely look forward to on their calendars.
As a mum, fundraising together has been important
Involving my daughters has helped us turn loss into action and pass on values that matter deeply to us as a family — kindness, compassion and supporting others.
I’m incredibly proud of the commitment we share year after year. Supporting Breast Cancer Now has given us comfort, purpose and a meaningful way to keep my auntie’s memory alive.
What began in my garden has grown into a much-loved annual tradition
To date, excluding 2020, we’ve hosted a tea every year since!
Last year, the event had grown so much that we needed to move it from our home into a local venue. We welcomed over 70 people and raised an incredible £4,156 for Breast Cancer Now.
There’s always plenty of baking, lots of conversation and a real sense of togetherness. These afternoons give us the chance to remember my auntie and have lots of fun whilst supporting a great cause.
I’ve shared my homemade recipe with the team
It’s a tasty lemon drizzle cake, which I hope will help people bake for a better future. They’ve also turned it into a game of guess the weight of the cake! I hope the recipe and game helps others raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving science and life-changing support.
My top tip is…
Don’t be afraid to ask for support from local companies, including the bigger ones – my motto is if you don’t ask, you don’t get! And remember, whether your event is big or small, every pound raised helps to change the future of breast cancer.
Afternoon Tea is a lovely way to bring people together and help fund life-changing science and support. You’ll be surprised at how meaningful and rewarding the day can be.
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