Friends Norma Blackburn and Margaret Dunn are all set for the return of their ‘grand do’ – an annual Penwortham fete that raises money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Having known each for more than 30 years, Norma and Margaret began teaming up to support the charity after Norma lost her husband Stephen to cancer in 2011, and Margaret’s close friend died from the disease in the same year.

This year’s grand do will be Norma and Margaret’s ninth, and they say it promises to be the grandest yet.

Norma said: “We are so lucky in that so many wonderful people donate things to us for the do. It has become a community event with people asking for the date weeks in advance and even signing off Christmas cards with the message of ‘see you in February at the do’.”

New clothes and accessories, unwanted boxed gifts, home-made preserves, flowers and planters, home knits, home-baked cakes, scones and cottage pies in foil trays will all be on sale. There will also be bacon barms, hotdogs and cream teas available to eat in.

Norma and Margaret have wrapped 120 prizes for a tombola, organised a grand raffle, and planned games including a chocolate casino, roll-a-coin and wheel of fortune.

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Rebecca Arestidou, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s central area fundraising co-ordinator, said: “Norma and Margaret’s grand do is becoming the stuff of local legend! They are a powerhouse. Their enthusiasm is infectious. We are incredibly grateful to them and all their helpers.”

To date, Norma and Margaret have raised almost £38,000 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and in 2017 they were named the charity’s supporters of the year.

Besides the grand do, they regularly help other supporters with their events, undertake supermarket collections and help staff a fundraising stall in the coffee shop at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at Royal Preston Hospital.

Norma and Margaret’s grand do will take place on Sunday 23 February from 1.30pm to 4pm in St Leonard’s Church Hall. It’s free entry.

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Will you be going to the grand do? What do you think of Norma and Margaret’s fundraising efforts? Let us know in the comments.