Covid-hit charity urges islanders to get together for a good cause

Sunday 20 September 2020

Whether a movie party, coffee morning or quiz night... Islanders are being encouraged to gather friends, family or colleagues for a small get-together to raise money for a local cancer charity that has lost out due to covid.

Macmillan Jersey and JT have teamed up to launch a week-long event ‘Get Together For Good’, which will be starting tomorrow.

The campaign is an extension of the annual Jersey’s Greatest Coffee Morning and is all about supporting local businesses, local people and the local charity. 

From 21 to 27 September, islanders are encouraged to come together in aid of the campaign, whether via a group cycle, spa day or a beach BBQ. There are lots of different ideas on their website.

Picture: How about a 'wacky walk'?

Participants are also encouraged to document their get together with some photos using the hashtag #gettogetherforgood on social media.

At the end of the campaign, the best three photos will be chosen by a panel of judges to win some prize packages all kindly donated by local businesses.

Steph Gibaut, Head of Fundraising for Macmillan Jersey, commented: “We are so excited to be launching such a fun event. We wanted to do something this year to really emphasise the ‘fun’ in ‘fundraising’."

She added that these fundraising efforts are really important for the charity, as it has seen its revenues dramatically drop as a result of the pandemic.

Picture: Islanders could also come together for a fundraising beach BBQ.

"This year has been difficult for our whole community and this is an opportunity to support each other. Like all charities, we have been financially impacted by covid-19 and are set to make 60% less income this year. As a local charity we don’t receive any financial support from Macmillan UK and therefore reply solely on the local community," Ms Gibaut explained.

"This loss creates a real challenge for us as our services are so desperately needed at this time. Although some form of normality has returned, many cancer patients are still shielding and will be for the foreseeable. We as a cancer support service need to ensure these individuals are supported in the best way possible so we are asking the community to join us and together we can make this happen."

Tamara O'Brien, Group Head of Customer Experience for JT, which is supporting the week-long campaign, said: “We know that in small communities such as ours in the Channel Islands, the chances are most of us will know someone living with, or affected by, cancer.

"By partnering with Macmillan Jersey, we’ve helped them turn their traditional one-day annual fundraiser into a week of exciting activities that people can join in with either online, or in small groups in line with government guidelines. We hope it will give everyone plenty of options to support them safely.

"It couldn’t be easier to host an event, with everything you need on the Macmillan Jersey website from downloadable invitations, place cards, sponsor forms, suggested movie lists, bunting and posters. By doing this together, we can all make a difference and raise much needed funds to help support the brilliant and vital work of Macmillan Jersey in our community.”