00:02Ladies and gentlemen, this week we mark the 30th anniversary of Macmillan's Coffee Morning.
00:09This event was originally conceived as a simple way to raise money and has since gone from
00:16strength to strength.
00:18Over the years it has become not only a formidable fundraising campaign, raising an incredible
00:24£27.4 million last year, but also an invaluable opportunity for friends and family to come
00:32together to share experiences and to raise a cuppa to those affected by cancer.
00:40It truly represents the very best of British community spirit and in current times we are
00:46learning just how powerful communities can be, especially in a crisis.
00:52I have been very proud to be a patron of Macmillan Cancer Support for the last 23 years and during
01:00that time I have met countless extraordinary people, including those affected by cancer
01:07and those dedicated to helping them.
01:10All this has shown me what you will know yourselves, just how challenging it can be to deal with
01:17cancer on top of everyday life.
01:21There are currently 2.5 million people living with a cancer diagnosis in the UK and that
01:29number is rising every year.
01:33Macmillan works tirelessly across all areas, physical, emotional and financial, to support
01:40people when they need it most.
01:44With the assistance of some of the country's best love actors, Macmillan will be bringing
01:49you some of these inspiring stories, all of them different, all of them showing just how
01:56vital this charity's work really is and just how essential it is that this lifeline be maintained.
02:05Macmillan was founded on a notion of kindness and an impulse to help others in pain and it
02:12is this culture of kindness that is still at the heart of Macmillan's Coffee Mornings today.
02:20Ladies and gentlemen, there could hardly be a more deserving cause, so as we celebrate this
02:26important milestone, I hope that you will join me in raising awareness of this great work and by
02:35hosting your own Coffee Morning this September.
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