Care company raises £905 for Keith Cancer Link
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A LOCAL care provider has raised over £900 for Keith Cancer Link by hosting a coffee morning on .
Caledonia We Care, which provides care in the Keith and Buckie areas, raised the cash by holding an event at Keith's Longmore Hall.
Service manager Shirley Cumming said she was "really surprised" by the huge response of the Keith community.
She said: "We were just really keen to be involved in the community and give back a little bit, I suppose.
"I know Keith Cancer Link does some amazing work, so we chose them for our first coffee morning.
"We have all got people who have received support from Keith Cancer Link and from the Buckie Cancer Support Group.
"It is amazing what they do.
"I was really surprised by the amount of support we got."
As the October 15 event was Caledonia We Care's first ever coffee morning, staff were uncertain about how it would be received.
However, after a short time they actually ran out of key items, which led to an emergency shop dash.
Ms Cumming said: "Honestly, we couldn't keep up with the people coming.
"We had to go out and get more tables, we had to buy more butteries, it was just crazy the amount of support we got."
The event was such a success that Caledonia We Care are planning on holding coffee mornings on a more regular basis.
They now plan to hold events two or three times a year for a local charity or charities.
Local businesses also had an important role in the success of the coffee morning.
Ms Cumming said: "I really canna be grateful enough for everybody that supported us.
"Harry Gow's gave us our pancakes, Strathisla Bakery gave us half of our butteries, Tesco gave us milk, butter jam and juice.
"We were really really well supported.
"A lot of the businesses also gave us raffle prizes and bottles.
"Even members of the public came round with bottles and prizes because they knew who we are because we might have supported a member of their family and that.
"Which was really nice."
The total raised by the coffee morning was far higher than Ms Cumming expected.
She said: "Honestly, when I was counting it I was nearly greeting because it just goes to show what a community can do.
"That £905 will make such a difference. I know it will.
"I am just really pleased to have that community support for local charities."
Coming up next for Caledonia We Care's fundraising effort is a stall at the Buckie Christmas Kracker, to support the Buckie Cancer Support Group.
Ms Cumming was especially keen to thank the community and the staff that made the event happen.
She said: "I have to thank the community, the people that attended, but also the staff.
"Loads of them gave up their own time to come and help serve teas and coffees, man stalls and stuff like that.
"We would like to do it for other charities again in the future, to include everybody.
"We are really really lucky in Keith."
