Lingen Davies’ World Cancer Day ‘takeover’

World Cancer Day was introduced 26 years ago at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. Intended to raise awareness about cancer, educate people, and encourage more Government action across the globe to address rising cancer statistics, the global campaign has gone on to drive home the message: cancer doesn’t discriminate.

So it was only fitting that as the region’s primary cancer charity Lingen Davies Cancer Support organised the very first Lingen Davies WCD coffee morning ‘event’.

By encouraging everyone in our community throughout Shropshire, Telford, and Mid Wales, we wanted to create an easy way for people to get together, raise funds for our £5million Sunflower Appeal, and primarily highlight the many services we deliver for those impacted by cancer.

Along with my comms colleagues, Freya and Pip, we loaded up the Lingen Davies van with collection cans, marketing, and merchandise – and we hit the road. First stop was Oakengates, hosted by Mayor Stephen Reynolds. The Outpost Café was already bustling with people when we arrived. Conversations were had with Telford & Wrekin employees, volunteers, visitors, and those keen to know why we were there.

Keen to hear more about plans for the new Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Princess Royal Hospital, we had many great conversations with people – pledging to host their own fundraiser, share information with friends about our Wellbeing Programme, and simply popping cash in the pot.

The Lion in Priorslee was our second stop – a great crowd of coffee and cake enthusiasts brought together by Cllrs Rachael Tyrrell and Paul Thomas shared their thoughts and again offered support and pledges of future activity. The brilliant team at Meeting Point House in Southwater who have already welcomed Lingen Davies into the heart of their community had gone so far as to bake LD themed biscuits for their coffee morning in the Hummingbird Café – very tasty thank you.

As we headed back towards Shrewsbury we stopped off at one of our long-running corporate supporters Pipekit – where apparently the early morning sausage rolls had gone down a treat – with all donations going towards the Sunflower Appeal.

We know many other coffee mornings were held on our behalf, many more cakes were baked, biscuits decorated, and conversations were had, than we were able to get to ourselves. But knowing that even on a gloomy February morning people couldn’t help but spot the bright blue Lingen Davies van in the heart of the community was a good feeling.

The rain failed to dampen any spirits and we were warmly welcomed by the community. Lingen Davies’ World Cancer Day community wide coffee morning was a roaring success… and one that will most definitely be repeated next February.

Written by Anna Williams