But when the pandemic enforced strict restrictions on social gatherings, Lucille and her friends hit on a wonderful alternative – offering to hand-deliver ‘afternoon tea boxes’, packed with tasty treats to residents in her village for a £10 donation.
“Since I lost my husband Paul to pancreatic cancer ten years ago, my fundraising for PCRF has always been generously supported by everyone in the village. This time was no different – all the ingredients and even the boxes were donated for free, and we had a small army of wonderful people helping with baking and delivery,” says Lucille.
“We had over 60 orders! People ordered them for themselves and others ordered them as treats for friends and family members who they couldn’t visit. We even had orders from outside the village! Along with extra donations, we raised over £800 which was fantastic.”
“I’m so glad we did it. Logistical and safety concerns had been a bit of a worry but everything went like clockwork. The more elderly residents and those who were shielding at the time told us how much they appreciated it at a time when very little else was happening.
“We’re hoping to go back to our coffee mornings in the church hall as soon as we can as we all look forward to getting together with friends and neighbours, but we’ve shown that we can still fundraise no matter what the circumstances!”