Take a group of family and friends, mix in a huge selection of homemade cakes and stir in a giant auction, raffle and tombola - and you have the recipe for a perfect charity event!

Dozens of cups of tea were poured, countless bakes enjoyed, and many prizes won during an afternoon tea in Peterborough to support Breast Cancer Now.

Peterborough Matters: There were plenty of cakes at Cetti's garden event in Peterborough.There were plenty of cakes at Cetti's garden event in Peterborough. (Image: Cetti Long)

 

Now in its fourth year, the chari-tea event was organised by keen baker and breast cancer survivor Cetti Long – with the cherry on top of the cake being a visit from the charity itself.

Held in the garden of her Stanground home, Cetti was again supported by generous family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and local businesses; where she and her guests took part in the charity’s national afternoon tea promotional campaign.

Cetti, a communications and engagement specialist for the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and received treatment at Peterborough City Hospital which is run by the Trust.

She said: “When I started my afternoon tea on a small scale in 2019, I had no idea it would grow to be such a popular event.

"Friends and business contacts have been so incredibly supportive with everything from donating prizes and baking ingredients to being overwhelming generous on the day – something I never take for granted.”

Cetti added: “Breast Cancer Now is a wonderful charity, and one which I turned to during many months of gruelling treatment and uncertainty.

“It continues provide a source of ongoing support and advice so I was particularly thrilled and honoured to have been contacted by the charity a few weeks ago, asking if they could attend the event. It was a pleasure to welcome them to our growing afternoon tea family.”

The event raised more than £1,700 – almost £500 more than last year - and is to be match funded to the tune of an additional £1,000 by a local employer, making it Cetti’s most successful event to date.

Anyone wishing to support the charity or hold an afternoon tea of their own this summer and there is more information on the Breast Cancer Now website.