The Hollies Bookkeeping raise nearly £1500 for the charity Breast Cancer Now

Some of the yummy cakes at our charity event in aid of Breast Cancer Now.

In September 2023 The Hollies Bookkeeping Services held a charity coffee morning to raise funds for the charity Breast Cancer Now.

Earlier this year, our Director Julie Williams’ sister, Rachael, was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer. Rachael found a lump in June and went to her doctor who fast-tracked her through a mammogram and consultations. On August 16 she had a major operation to remove the cancer.

The test results were carried out in America, and Rachael has just received the good news that the results confirmed what the doctors already knew from earlier tests, nothing more sinister was found and the cancer had not spread any further. Rachael will now be under the care of an oncologist at Christie’s in Manchester for her treatment plan including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, that will continue into the Spring of 2025.

To support Rachael, Julie arranged a charity event at Hollies Bookkeeping team offices in Pontesbury, Shropshire. She researched breast cancer charities and chose Breast Cancer Now, which carries out research and provides support and information leaflets to breast cancer sufferers.

Julie said: “We held a coffee morning on 12th September and around 35 people including friends, family, and clients came and gave donations on the day, ate cake, drank hot drinks.

“Rachael was our VIP on the day, and it was so lovely to see her up and about so soon after her operation. We had a few games such as guessing the weight of cake and the number of teapots on an image with wine for prizes, £500 came in from donations on the day and the rest has been donated via our Just Giving page. To date, we have raised £1475.

“Following the event Rachael told me Breast Cancer Now was where she had got all her information leaflets from, so she was able to digest and process what was happening in her own time with this support, she is also a member of Breast Cancer Now support forums so she can chat with ladies going through the same journey, so I’m really pleased I chose that particular charity.

“Unfortunately, breast cancer is common – one of our previous bookkeepers Diane Griffiths, had it, my best friend had it five years ago and my nan had it when I was a little girl. We really wanted to raise awareness and do something to help.

“I want to thank everyone for coming and their donations on the day or via the page. I would urge all people to check their breast areas for lumps or changes and to seek medical advice early if they have any concerns. Rachael has also told me about another great charity that you can register with to remind you to check your breasts, CoppaFeel Breast Cancer Awareness Charity. She tells everyone to check now because if it prevents someone else getting cancer or going though breast cancer once it gets to an invasive stage, she says she has done something good for someone else.”

The Just Giving link is open until the end of September and you can donate via this link.