A York breast cancer patient is organising a huge prize draw and grand charity ball to say “thank you” to the staff at York Hospital who have been helping her through her illness.

 

Angela Grinham, owner of The Cake Boutique (York), originally intended just to make a cake and raffle it in aid of the Macmillan Breast Cancer Nurses; but when her contacts in the wedding industry heard what she was doing many of them wanted to help too – with the result that she is now able to offer a prize consisting of a spectacular package of wedding services worth around ten thousand pounds!

 

The lucky winner will receive almost everything they need for a fabulous wedding day, including a dress, menswear, a car, photography, flowers, a cake, stationery, favours, hair and beauty services, plus help from a wedding planner to organise everything. Angela is also hoping that local companies will come forward to offer a honeymoon and rings. The prize can be used by those celebrating civil and vow renewal ceremonies as well as weddings.

 

Tickets for the draw cost £5 and are available from now until September, with all proceeds going directly to the Macmillan breast cancer care nurses in York. They can be bought online and at various wedding events over the next few months. The winner’s name will be drawn at a fabulous charity ball to be held at the Park Inn on Saturday 9th October.

 

The competition will be officially launched at a Wedding Showcase at the Park Inn in York on Sunday 7th March. The event, which runs from noon until 4 pm, will also feature performances by York dance school Dance Factory. Entry costs £2, which will be donated to the charity; or for a donation of £5 visitors will also receive a prize draw ticket.

 

Angela says “I had intended to make a small gesture myself to show my appreciation for the treatment I’d received at York Hospital and give something back. But when my friends in the wedding world found out about my little raffle, they were only too happy to offer their own contributions and things just snowballed! To do justice to the amazing prize and raise as much money as possible we then decided to run the draw over several months and top it off with a ball. It’s an amazing opportunity for any couple getting married in 2011”.

 

On a more serious note, Angela adds “As well as raising money for the Macmillan nurses I’d also love it if we could raise awareness of the great work the cancer care staff do at York Hospital, especially the fantastic specialist nurses. I really can’t emphasise how much they have helped me and so many other people. Being diagnosed with cancer is very scary, both for yourself and your family. You feel really vulnerable, but don’t always want to burden your loved ones with your concerns, so it was really comforting to know there was – and still is – somebody I can speak to at any time if I need to”.

 

For further details on the prize draw or to buy a ticket visit the website at www.winayorkwedding.co.uk. Anyone who feels they may be able to donate a honeymoon or rings to the package should email Angela at info@cakeboutiqueyork.co.uk.