A cake sale held at The Coffee Club on Manston Business Park has raised £1,131 for Parkinson’s UK.
The successful community event organised by accounts manager Rosie Ralph, with a little help from her eight year old daughter Olivia, brought together families, friends and people living with Parkinson’s.
Initially planned as a small fundraising initiative, the event exceeded all expectations, attracting queues throughout the day.
Rosie said the idea came from a desire to give back and raise awareness for her father David, who is living with Parkinson’s disease.
She was also inspired by the film I Swear, charting the life of Tourette’s sufferer John Davidson and his work to help people understand the condition.
Rosie said: “I wanted to do something for my dad and for others affected by Parkinson’s. I can’t run marathons, but I can bake. I honestly wasn’t sure how it would go, but the support on the day was incredible.
“Seeing people come together, including those living with Parkinson’s and their families, made it really special. My dad meeting others in a similar situation and chatting with them was a real highlight for me.
“Some people do struggle with Parkinson’s, not just physically but also mentally. When my dad was first diagnosed he struggled with going out to eat, he didn’t want people watching him and thinking he was weird rather than having Parkinson’s.
“I had to explain to Olivia, who was then six, that Pops had Parkinson’s and make her aware of what that is.
“I said to her that at the coffee morning people might shake or stutter and you just have to be patient.
“I want people to be more aware, to hold on and think about what you can see.”
Rosie, who was offered use of the café through work connections with the site owner, said she was initially worried that only a few people would attend.
She added: “I did not anticipate raising over £1000. I thought I might only raise £100 or £200 and that people might trickle in but we had queues going out the door for the full two hours.”
James Beeching, Community Fundraiser at Parkinson’s UK, said: “What Rosie created wasn’t just a fundraiser, it was a space where people connected. The money raised is fantastic, but just as important are the conversations and relationships that came out of the day. The cakes looked incredible, and I can’t thank all the volunteer bakers enough for their time and efforts.”
He added that the event had already sparked interest in future fundraising activity locally, with attendees asking when the next one would take place.
The funds raised will go towards supporting Parkinson’s UK services, including local support networks and national resources for people living with the condition.
Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK every 20 minutes and by 2050, the number of people living with the condition worldwide will double to 25 million.
Parkinson’s UK is the leading European funder of Parkinson’s research and here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way. For information and support, visit parkinsons.org.uk or call the free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.
