How a street in Great Bowden is getting together to stand up to cancer

Scores of people in an entire street in Market Harborough are turning out to fire up a great cause on Sunday (April 18) after declaring – it’s time to stand up to cancer.

Five women living in Berry Close, Great Bowden, are staging the brilliant get-together as they set out to generate £450 to boost the Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

They are calling on the tight-knit community of Great Bowden to roll up and support them as they are promising a feast of fun and food.

And they are inviting you to go along and take part in the feelgood atmosphere too – in a safe socially-distanced way, of course.

Helping to spearhead Sunday’s event, Charlotte Smith, 34, said: “We are really looking forward to bringing people together after such a hard year and to back such a great cause.

“Just about every home in the land has been touched one way or another by cancer.

“We are determined to do our bit to help combat this horrible disease.”

The public-spirited mum-of-two is acting after a close friend has recently lost her partner to a brain tumour.

“It is devastating and this has hit my friend very hard.

“Her partner was only in his early 50s and he leaves behind three children as well,” said Charlotte, a carer.

“So this mission to support Stand Up To Cancer is very personal to me, it means so much.

“Other people here have lost someone to cancer as well.

“We’ve got a brilliant team of five women here in Berry Close and I’m sure that Sunday’s going to be a big success.

“We have all worked really hard – organising raffle tickets, baking homemade cakes, samosas and vegan treats.

“We’ll also have a coffee van and our amazing Junior Bake Off volunteers have been making very special lemonade,” said Charlotte.

“It just feels so good to be doing something positive to help tackle this horrific disease.

“The weather’s been superb this week and we’re hoping for a lovely sunny day on Sunday.

“We’ll be kicking off at 2pm and enjoying the fun and festivities until 3.30pm.

“All the stars are lining up and we are all set to go.

“I’m targeting raking in £450.

“And we will be welcoming people along from all over Market Harborough – although we will be making sure everyone is safely socially distanced.”

You can find out much more about Stand Up To Cancer – which is also being supported by Channel 4’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off – on their website here: https://www.standuptocancer.org.uk/