The coffee shop within Rosemere Cancer Centre made a £5,939 profit over the 2019/20 financial year.

The voluntary committee that runs the coffee shop has presented the funds to Rosemere Cancer Foundation, helping the charity continue to fund projects to help local cancer patients.

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Profits were down £4,569 on the previous year due to the Covid-19 measures brought in place in March.

As cancer patients were advised to shield, the coffee shop was closed prior to lockdown measures, and all stock that could not be sold was donated to other charities and food banks.

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Chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Dan Hill, said: “Despite profits being down, it was a fantastic and much needed donation by the committee, which works tirelessly to support us by providing a coffee shop that is stocked and staffed entirely by volunteers and which is loved equally by cancer centre staff, patients and the family members, friends and carers, who attend appointments with them.

“All its profits come to us and have done ever since it opened in 2002. If ever a service was missed, it is this one. Unfortunately, we don’t know yet when the Rosemere Coffee Shop can re-open as the most important thing is the safety of patients.

“The first step in working to keep them safe is to limit those they come into contact with to essential medical staff so the coffee shop has to remain closed for the foreseeable future.”

As well as selling refreshments, the coffee shop provides a free hot drink for all patients and those attending the cancer centre with them.

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Marion Jackson, who manages the coffee shop, said: “We all get to know our customers and so have been missing them. We are also aware we’re a vital income stream for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“I’m sure I speak for everyone involved in the coffee shop when I say we can’t wait to get back to work as soon as it’s deemed safe for patients.”

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Have you donated any money to charity during lockdown? Let us know in the comments below.