Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) supports people diagnosed with cancer across the county and wants people to host a paid for meal with their friends, families or colleagues, with all money raised helping local families struggling with a cancer diagnosis.

“DCCF helps hundreds of families a year by providing cash grants to cover necessities such as household bills and transport costs,” explained DCCF chairman Chris Thomas. “And as you can imagine our help has never been as vital as it is now.

“But our grants are funded through our events and during the last 18 months most of these have been either cancelled or postponed due to Covid restrictions.

“Thankfully, our supporters are extremely resourceful people and one of them, the wonderful Gill Emeny, hit upon an idea to enable groups of friends to socialise, while boosting charity funds.”

Gill and other DCCF supporters have been inviting friends over for dinner, to their gardens for a barbeque or even to their beach hut for fish and chips and asking them to make a donation for their meal.

Gill, who is about to host her fourth Eat In To Help Out event said: “Like many people I’ve desperately missed being part of DCCF’s regular fundraising events during the pandemic – and I’ve missed socialising with my friends too.

“Being allowed to mix again is something to celebrate and preparing small groups of friends a simple, inexpensive meal which they then donate to DCCF for, makes everyone very happy indeed.

“I have set myself a target of raising £5,000 for the charity through Eat In To Help Out and I hope local families, work colleagues, community groups and even Scout and Brownie troupes might try it too, knowing they are making a real difference to local families facing cancer.”

Anyone interested in holding an Eat In To Help Out event or requiring further information is asked to email: admin@dccf.co.uk  or phone Nikki on 07593 890 879.