BARRY resident Carolyn ‘Caca’ Collard is making the final preparations for her annual garden party extravaganza to raise money for the Breast Cancer Now charity.
‘Caca’s Breastfest’, which is being staged for the 15th time, has become a popular annual fixture for her friends and the local community near her home in Pencoedtre, and a record 134 people have bought tickets for this year’s party on Sunday 6th August.
Caca was inspired to host her first fundraiser in 2008 after losing friends to breast cancer.
Since then, her event has grown in popularity and over the years has raised close to £36,000. This year she hopes to smash the £40,000 milestone.
The event is part of Breast Cancer Now’s long-running ‘Afternoon Tea’ initiative, where thousands of people around the country stage similar gatherings to raise money, and it has become Caca’s favourite day of the year: “It’s like one of those old community fetes – a real highlight of the social calendar. All the neighbours look forward to it, and so do I.
“What started as 10 people in the back garden has become this whole community affair.
“I never envisioned it being so successful. Ultimately, it’s a chance for the neighbourhood to come together and do something fun for a good cause. That’s the secret to its success. I think people really appreciate that sense of community,” she said.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 55,000 women and 370 men diagnosed every year.
Breast Cancer Now offers free health information and emotional reassurance through the charity’s helpline, and at present the charity is funding more than 70 cutting-edge projects worth just over £24 million to discover ways to prevent breast cancer.
In the lead-up to the annual party, Caca tours the shops and cafes in Barry Island seeking donations for the raffle and auction, and she paid tribute to the owners for their generosity: “It wouldn’t be fair to name individual businesses because I might leave somebody out but, as ever, they have been very supportive with the raffle and auction prizes they have donated.
“We’ve also had people knocking on the door to donate prizes, and I’m very grateful to them as well. The cakes are absolutely amazing too – my sister is a very talented baker,” she said.
Over the years, some rather unexpected items have ended up being included in the auction. Caca said: “It’s hard not to get carried away. I once auctioned my husband Mike’s shed off for £100 to someone who wanted to do it up as a she-shed.
“I also sold our two-seater settee from the house, and some of my garden ornaments accidentally got caught up in the raffle. So long as it’s benefitting Breast Cancer Now, I don’t mind. I’ll do what it takes to raise the money.”
With the weather so unpredictable, Caca is making contingency plans in case of rain on 6th August: “We’ve been very lucky over the years with the weather – there was one occasion when we had to decamp to a nearby hall, but it still went ahead.
“This July has been really up and down so far with wind and rain. My husband and I may put a marquee up in the garden, but if it’s very wet and windy, we’ll have to find a local indoor venue. But no matter what, Caca’s Breastfest will definitely be going ahead,” she said.
By MARCUS STEAD
Other items to read:
- Former Barry office building transformed into vital new homes
- Prolific thief banned from entering shops in Barry
- I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
- Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
- Parent may have to lose job for school run
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Former Barry office building transformed into vital new homes
Prolific thief banned from entering shops in Barry
I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
WHEN you elected me in May, I said I had come to listen and to…
Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
Parent may have to lose job for school run
Double victory for Pencoed cricketers
