UK: Builders, plumbers, tradesmen and members of the public enjoyed a hot cuppa and a bacon butty at 15 branches of Buildbase, Plumbase and Jackson Building Centres to celebrate World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Staff at the builders and plumbers merchants provided hot refreshments in return for a donation to Macmillan.

Although the national World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is not being held until the end of September, the 15 branches held the event to publicise the coffee morning in advance. Events were staged at sites across the UK from Shetland to Portsmouth. Many of Grafton Merchanting GB’s other branches will be holding their Big Breakfast events later this month.

GMGB has adopted Macmillan as its national charity partner in 2011, Macmillan’s centenary year. Funds will go towards the Macmillan Support Line, a free phone service manned by cancer support specialists, providing support to 1000 people affected by cancer every day.

“Macmillan’s coffee morning is such a well-known annual fundraiser but we wanted to make it appropriate for our customers. They always welcome a big mug of tea or coffee in the morning and we thought it would be a good idea to add some breakfast refreshments as part of our take on the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning,” says Andy Williams, managing director of Jackson Building Centres.

Catriona Munn from Macmillan Cancer Support says: “I’d like to thank all staff and customers who have a hot cuppa and some breakfast as they are contributing to towards the GMGB fundraising for Macmillan. All money raised through Big Breakfast events will help people affected by cancer. What a hearty way to start the day.”

Now in its 21st year, ‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ is Macmillan’s flagship fundraising event which this year aims to raise £8.5 million (www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee). Follow the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on twitter @macmillancoffee and share your event using the hashtag #coffeemorning.