Crumbs! How cakes have helped Kerry and family raise more than £20,000 for Weldmar

They’ve become something of an annual institution in Dorchester.

The summer cake sales organised by Kerry Brown, her daughters Imogen and Maddy, and mum Jacky, have been running for ten years, and the family is celebrating surpassing a remarkable milestone of £20,000 raised for the charity.

Their fundraising journey began when Kerry’s dad, Chris, was diagnosed with cancer. Imogen, who was only eleven at the time, insisted on raising funds for Fortuneswell Ward at Dorset County Hospital and came up with the idea of a cake sale in the garden. It was a success, and they were able to donate almost £600.

Sadly, Chris passed away at Weldmar’s Inpatient Unit in Dorchester in December 2015. “Weldmar were so brilliant at looking after the whole family,” says Kerry. “Imogen and Maddy saw the Children and Young Person’s Counsellor before and after Dad passed away, which really helped them.”

It was the compassionate care the family received during Chris’s final week that motivated them to support Weldmar. “They looked after all of us so well that we wanted to continue fundraising because we knew it was needed,” Kerry explains. “Imogen used to write to local companies for prizes for bingo events and raffles, and we continued the cake sales too.”

More than just a cake sale

What started as a garden stall has now blossomed into a popular community event. Moving to Salisbury Field and now to the Salvation Army Hall, people come along to enjoy homemade cakes and a cup of tea, and the raffle is still a highlight.

“We bake in our house, Mum bakes in hers, and about half a dozen friends bake too,” Kerry says. “People come along and make a donation in return for a piece of cake. We drop leaflets to hundreds of local houses, and people look out for it every year. I’m always being asked when the next one is!”

Local businesses happily donate raffle prizes, and people are incredibly generous because, as Kerry says, “It’s a cause that is so close to many people’s hearts. Many people will come and tell us about their Weldmar story, and their experience of a loved one being in their care.”

A personal motivation to help other families who need Weldmar’s care

Maddy, who was just seven when she lost her grandad, says the support she and her sister received from Weldmar was invaluable. “I was able to reach out and get help for a number of years afterwards, and it was always there when I needed it,” she recalls.

Now 16, she says they’ll never stop supporting Weldmar. “Grandad would be laughing at the fact we’re still doing these,” she says with a smile. “But the determination behind what we do is to make sure that another child gets the care that we did. We want to make sure that care carries onto the next generation.”

The family’s dedication extends beyond the cake sales. Kerry’s mother, Jacky, was a long-time volunteer in the charity’s fundraising office, and the family often helps out at other hospice events, such as the Summer Fete each September.

“I’m so proud that we’ve kept going with it,” Maddy says. “It all started off with an idea from Imogen, and it just grew as a family tradition.”

Our thanks to Kerry and Maddy for sharing their story, and to Imogen and Jacky for their continued support. Would you like to share your Weldmar story? What motivates you to support us? Please contact james.oneill@weld-hospice.org.uk if you would like to have a chat.