Jackie takes the cake at McMillan fundraiser

The World's Biggest Coffee Morning

Jackie Gunn, a Ward Manager at the Rochdale Infirmary’s Urgent Care Centre found a novel way of commemorating her parents when she opened her Littleborough home last Friday to raise funds for the McMillan Nursing Service which supports patients living with cancer.

She held a well-attended coffee morning on her late father’s birthday as positive tribute to his memory. He was a scientist working in the nuclear industry.

Former Rochdale Online forum-poster, Linda Phillips helped out at the event and admits to ‘pigging-out’ on Jackie’s chocolate cake. She said: “I have known Jackie for several years and it was wonderful to help her to turn an event like the death of her dad into something that keeps his memory alive and benefits others at the same time.”

Sadly, Jackie’s mother, Gloria Oates CBE, also died of cancer in 2010. She had been a senior manager in Rochdale Healthcare Trust prior to being appointed Chief Executive at the Oldham NHS Trust. She retired from the NHS in 2002 and was a former Sheriff of Lancashire.

The event raised £295.16 on the day with more to come from a sale of cakes at the Urgent Care Centre. It was part of a National Coffee Morning initiative organised by the McMillan’s. More and more people affected by cancer are choosing to commemorate the death of a loved one in this way. It is described on their website as “The biggest coffee morning in the world’ and has been held annually since 1991.

If you are interested in getting involved in next year’s event, please contact the Macmillan Nursing Service via their website.