Raising a cuppa for cancer funds

Blue Bear pre-school and nursery, in Freckleton, will be holding a cake and coffee morning on Friday, as part of Breast Cancer Care’s national Big Pink event.

The event will be particularly poignant for staff – as deputy manager Michaela Higham is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer after discovering a lump just four months ago.

Michaela and husband Paul, a manager in engineering at Blackpool and The Fylde College, had escaped to north Wales for a weekend break, after attending the funeral of a close friend who they lost to cancer earlier this year.

But instead of a time for reflection, the pair found themselves rushing home to Freckleton after Michaela made the shock discovery.

While Michaela is improving daily after months of appointments with specialists, surgery and chemotherapy, she has been unable to work at Blue Bear and her absence has resonated with colleagues.

Anne Chauhan, manager at Blue Bear, said: “What happened to Michaela has brought breast cancer closer to home for many of us.

“She has been greatly missed by staff and pupils at Blue Bear and we wanted to do something positive to show how much we support her.

“We hope lots of people will come and attend the event as this is a charity close to so many people’s hearts.”

As well as raising money for Breast Cancer Care, part of the proceeds will be donated to Blackpool Victoria Hospital towards a Faxitron machine, which would help many other patients like Michaela to get biopsy results faster in the future.

The coffee and cake morning will be held in the school hall at Strike Lane Primary School, Freckleton on Friday, at 10am.

Everyone is invited to come along with family and friends to support the event.