Coffee shop volunteers serve up record-breaking treat for Rosemere

The donation represents the coffee shop’s latest annual profits. It was formally presented to Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer and head of charities for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dan Hill at the volunteers’ yearly social held at Our Lady & St Edward’s Catholic Church Hall, Fulwood.

Dan said: “We are just staggered by the amount gifted to us by our coffee shop volunteers. We were given space within the cancer centre that we made into a coffee shop 23 years ago.

“Our primary motivation was to provide a refreshments service for patients waiting for their appointments and many of our first volunteers were former patients keen to see our plan work. With no staff overheads, we have always benefited from any profits, which have gone to support our projects, but this year’s donation is up by almost £10,000 on last year’s and that was triple the amount we had ever received before.”

Dan continued: “We did not expect an increase this year but we know from talking to patients, their family members and friends, who come to keep them company, and cancer centre staff that the hot and cold drinks, toast, toasted tea cakes and other snacks, plus ice creams in summer, are very much appreciated and were much missed during the Covid pandemic when the coffee shop had to close.

“Since it has re-opened, the coffee shop has been more popular than ever and it is this increased and consistent footfall that seems to be driving profits. However, we know that at the root is good management so all credit to the volunteer team. We are immensely grateful and proud of all team members.”

The coffee shop is open Mondays to Fridays, 8-30 am to 4 pm and for new patient open mornings on Saturdays every other month. Since it opened and with this year’s donation, it has raised £406,056 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation. New volunteers to the team are always welcome. Anyone interested should contact coffee shop secretary Sue Lawson via email at [email protected]

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.

The charity funds cutting edge equipment, research, training and other cancer services and therapies that the NHS is unable to afford in order to make patients’ cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation and how to volunteer, visit www.rosemere.org.uk