Summer fundraiser on River Deben to support cancer community

Organisers of the Deben Macmillan Challenge are pulling together the final touches for the event, which they hope will raise £25,000 for the UK’s leading cancer support charity.

The Deben Macmillan Challenge encourages people of all ages to take on the fundraising challenge of travelling the length of the River Deben either on land or water between 24^th August and 8^th September in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Adrian Smith, chair of the organising group, said: “We are delighted that the Mayors of Woodbridge and Felixstowe will be cutting the starting ribbon for the Deben Macmlllan Challenge at 9.30am on Saturday 24^th August at Ufford Park Hotel.

“We hope people will now be deciding which challenge they would like to take on, whether it is to walk, cycle, run, row, sail or kayak any distance and register their fundraising through our Just Giving page.

Adrian adds: “There are 17 pubs, cafés and restaurants along the Deben where participants can collect ‘passport stamps’ and completed passports can be entered into a prize draw. This will help people plan their routes doing either both sides of the river at approximately 28 miles or just a section.”

T-shirts celebrating the event are on sale from Ufford Park Hotel, Notcutts, Kitchen Shop and Holly Blue in Woodbridge at £10 each.

To celebrate the end of the challenge, a Dinner Dance is being held in Bredfield on Saturday 7^th September and a special showing of the film “Life on the Deben” will be screened at the Riverside Cinema on 8^th September. Further details can be found on the Deben Macmillan Challenge JustGiving and Facebook pages and the Riverside website

https://www.theriverside.co.uk/programme_detail.php?id=1306.

Half of us will get cancer at some point in our lives. There are currently around 2.5 million people across the UK who are living with the consequences of a cancer diagnosis and this number is set to rise to 4 million by 2030. Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with cancer in the UK and it can affect anyone.

Macmillan provides medical, emotional, financial and practical help for cancer patients, from specialist cancer nurses to grants for cancer patients with money problems.

So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you. Macmillan is the UK’s leading cancer support charity, giving personal one to one care to thousands of people every day.

From the moment people hear the words they have cancer Macmillan Cancer Support is there.

Macmillan’s fundraising manager for Suffolk, Alexandra Haswell, said: “Cancer is life changing, but with the right support, life with cancer is still life and we help people live it.

“Through better treatment and early diagnosis people are adding years to their life. We want to support those affected by cancer to add life to those years.

“At Macmillan, we know how cancer can affect everything. Not just your health. We’re here to help people live life, no matter what, but we can’t do it without the amazing people who fundraise for us.

“We are almost entirely funded by donations and simply cannot support the growing number of people who need us without help.

“To set up a JustGiving page or find out more details about the Deben Macmillan Challenge, visit justgiving.com/campaign/debenmacmillanchallenge.

“The money raised will go towards helping Macmillan support people in Suffolk affected by cancer at the time they need us most. Do something amazing today, fundraise or volunteer for Macmillan. Visit www.macmillan.org.uk/getinvolved to find out more.”

For information on fundraising for Macmillan call 0300 1000 200 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/fundraising.

To access support from Macmillan visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 00 00.