World’s Biggest Coffee Morning boosts charity total

The total raised so far for Ashwood’s Charity of the Year Macmillan Cancer Support stands at a magnificent £20,400.01…and it’s still rising! Most of this has come from John’s Garden Open Days and Hellebore Tours (the entire proceeds from entrance charges are donated) and fine weather on these key events this year has ensured good visitor numbers. Various other events in The Gift Shop (Moorcroft Pottery Evening and A Taste of Christmas) also contribute a donation.

Guess the Weight of the Cake Competition

Our fund-raising has recently been boosted by £644.11 from the proceeds from our Biggest Coffee Morning in the World held in the Tea Room on Friday September 25th. This event proved immensely popular with both staff and customers: the room was decked with balloons and bunting and there were themed cupcakes and biscuits on sale with a £1 donation from each one sold going to Macmillan.

A ‘Guess the Weight of the Cake’ Competition drew lots of entries and the cake, loving created and kindly donated by Davis’s Family Bakery Wall Heath, was much admired. On Saturday’s Garden Open Day, we were also pleased to welcome members of our local Macmillan Cancer Support Dudley Committee who carried on the sterling work of persuading visitors to enter the competitions. A big ‘thank you’ to all our helpers and volunteers on both days as well as to all our lovely customers who gave so generously.

Competition Winners

Guess the Weight of the Cake: Winner: Mr. and Mrs. J. Evans (correct answer: 3.96kg)

Guess the Number of the Coffee Beans in the Jar: Winner: (Ms. V. Griffiths (correct answer: 486)

Guess the Number of Spots on the Cake: Winner: Mrs. Starkey (correct answer: 576)

Additionally, the nursery staff held their own event over 4 days and the sale of home-made cakes, biscuits and savouries raised a further £178.97: a magnificent effort…even if it meant a few extra inches on everyone’s waistlines!

The money that Ashwood raises will be used locally and is to be targeted entirely to help one of their most exciting projects in Dudley, West Midlands: a Specialist Care at Home partnership with Mary Stevens Hospice, NHS Dudley Foundation Trust and other local organisations.

Winners Eve and John Evans being presented with the cake by Ashwood’s John Massey and Tony Cartwright

Chris Jones of Macmillan Cancer Support greets two visitors to John’s Garden