Staff and supporters of cancer charity, Dimbleby Cancer Care, came together for a Christmas sing-along on Thursday 11 December to spread some festive cheer and raise much needed funds for the charity.
The charity choir gathered at Bermondsey Square in SE1 to entertain the crowds with Christmas classics for half an hour from 7pm, before making their way down Bermondsey Street to spread the festive cheer and serenade guests at a variety of restaurants along the road including Del Aziz, Antico, Casse-Croûte, The Garrison, The Hide and Pizarro restaurant.
José Pizarro, founder and executive chef at Jose and Pizarro restaurants. “I love Christmas and what could be more festive than carol singers. It was a delight to welcome the Dimbleby Cancer Care choir into my restaurant and I know all our guests throughly enjoyed it. I am always happy to support local cases like this, especially at such a wonderful time of year when we all should be thankful for our health and happiness.”
The charity collected donations as they sang and all the money raised will go towards the charity’s ‘Care for the Future’ appeal, which aims to raise £500,000 over the next two years so that it can continue and expand its work within the cancer community.
Dimbleby Cancer Care ambassador, Megan Simpkins, 54 from Wapping, helped to organise the event. The charity supported her whilst she was being treated for stage 1 cancer of the womb back in 2012. She said:
“Christmas is a poignant time of year for me as it was when I was first diagnosed so when the charity approached me to get involved in helping with this event I was delighted. It has been a remarkable year with engaging with people and making them aware of the charity’s work and I am very proud to be part of it. I want to have a placebo effect with telling one person who will tell one person, who will tell one person and so on. One person can help save and treat cancer.”
The charity was set up in 1966 in memory of broadcaster Richard Dimbleby and is based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London. Its aim is to provide practical and psychological support to people living with cancer and to their families and carers.
Robin Pritchard, director at Dimbleby Cancer Care, added: “We couldn’t have done it without the kind permission from Bermondsey Square and the support of all the restaurant owners who let us serenade their guests, so a big thanks goes to them. Thanks also to everyone who donated and helped us raise such a fantastic amount. Christmas really is about giving and the generosity of those who came along really embodied that sentiment.”
Carol Singers Pictured: (L-R) Sarah Allen, Robin Pritchard, Paula Hargadon, Becs Jarvis, Deborah Mills, Paul Truesdale, Tom Donohue, Megan Simpkins, Julie Pottle and Sarah Wallace
About Dimbleby Cancer Care
Dimbleby Cancer Care was set up in 1966 in memory of renowned broadcaster Richard Dimbleby and is based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London. Its aim is to provide practical and psychological support to people living with cancer and to their families and carers. Its mission is to raise money to continue our commitment to funding the Benefits Advice service at Guy’s and St Thomas’, to provide our Dimbleby pillows for cancer patients, and to secure the future of cancer care services through the Dimbleby Cancer Care Information and Support Services with the opening of the new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital in 2016. In addition, the Dimbleby Cancer Care Research Fund awards up to £300,000 per year to research projects looking at all aspects of cancer care. According to recent statistics, by 2020 almost half of the people living in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. www.dimblebycancercare.org
About ‘Care for the Future’ appeal
Dimbleby Cancer Care’s ‘Care for the Future’ appeal aims to raise £500,000 over the next two years so that it can continue and expand its work within the cancer community, primarily in South East London. The appeal will run for two years, concluding with the opening of the new cancer centre at Guy’s hospital in 2016 where the charity’s Information and Support Services for cancer patients will be based. Dimbleby Cancer Care will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016. To continue to support cancer care into the future we need to raise vital funds. Every donation makes a difference, visit www.dimblebycancercare.org/donate to find out how to get involved.