A Cup of Care: How Linda’s Coffee Mornings raised nearly £8,000 for St Luke’s

15th May 2026

After her own cancer treatment, Linda Ryder found a simple way to give back – coffee, cake and community. Over six years, her coffee mornings raised nearly £8,000 for St Luke’s, supporting families like her own and leaving a lasting mark on those around her.

For more than six years, Linda Ryder has poured love, resilience and countless cups of coffee into supporting St Luke’s. What began as her personal way of giving back after her own diagnosis soon grew into a much‑loved community tradition – a series of coffee mornings that brought people together and raised an incredible £7,981.35 to help others experiencing similar.

It was after Linda went through chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer that she decided she wanted to do her bit and return the support she had received.

“It was actually a friend who sparked the idea”, she recalls. “When I was having chemotherapy, I used to go and sit at the Mustard Tree Centre while I waited for my anti‑sickness tablets to work before I could go in for treatment. The ladies up there were just lovely – absolutely superb.

“After my treatment finished, my friend said to me, ‘You’d like to help St Luke’s, wouldn’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I really would. And Macmillan too.’ But I told her, ‘I don’t want to be up there. I don’t want to be anywhere near the place again.’

“She said, ‘Well, you love baking – why don’t you do coffee mornings?’ And that’s where it all started. I thought, yes, that’s a brilliant idea.”

Linda Coffee Morning

Linda (centre) at one of her St Luke’s Coffee Mornings

Care that changed everything

Linda started hosting her coffee mornings for St Luke’s back in 2018, with the help of her husband David, she became known amongst neighbours and friends for putting on an incredible display of cakes and coffee, all while raising money for St Luke’s.

It was after David was diagnosed with leukaemia that the reality of what she was doing really hit home.

“We always knew because of his leukaemia that he would probably need St Luke’s at some stage. And he did. Not because of the leukaemia in the end – he developed melanoma. He died at home, with a St Luke’s nurse coming in to care for him. The St Luke’s nurses were absolutely fantastic.

David sadly died on Boxing Day two years ago, but thanks to the St Luke’s team, the family were able to spend their last Christmas together at home. “They came in on Christmas Eve to help and they were just so happy, jolly and lovely.”

Following David’s death, Linda felt she could no longer continue to hold her coffee mornings. So in 2024 she decided to hold her final one and instead continued showing her support by helping her son Kevin, – one of the Directors at Sherford Building and Developments – organise their annual Memory Ball with JEM Scaffolding. Last year they raised an incredible £25,000 from the Memory Ball and Golf Day.

Turning care into community action

While her coffee mornings may have come to an end Linda’s support for St Luke’s is still as strong as ever and she is encouraging others to consider holding their own coffee morning to help raise awareness and funds for local hospice care.

By holding a coffee morning for St Luke’s you will be helping to ensure much-needed funds for support at home or at our specialist unit at Turnchapel. Held in people’s homes, village halls, schools, workplaces and more, coffee morning events ask you to bake, bring or break out the biscuits by inviting your friends for a cake and coffee in return for a small donation. Coffee mornings can be held all year round. Every pound raised from these events helps us keep our nurses on the roads and the doors open for support for families in your communities. If you are interested in holding your own coffee morning, fill out our online form, set up your fundraising page and download our fundraising pack, complete with invites, bunting, cake flags and games.

FAQs

What is a St Luke’s coffee morning?

A coffee morning is a simple fundraising event where you invite friends, family or colleagues to enjoy cake and a drink in return for a donation. It’s a friendly way to bring people together while supporting local hospice care.

Do I need to be an experienced baker to host one?

No. You can bake, buy or ask others to bring something along. The focus is on community and raising funds, not perfection.

Where can I hold a coffee morning?

You can host one almost anywhere – at home, in a village hall, school, workplace or community space. Choose somewhere that feels comfortable and easy for your guests to get to.

How much money should guests give?

There’s no set amount. Most hosts ask for a small donation for refreshments, and you can also include raffles or games to raise a little more.

What difference does the money make?

Every pound helps fund St Luke’s care at home and at the specialist unit in Turnchapel. It supports our specialist care teams who provide comfort, dignity and care to patients and their families.

Can I hold a coffee morning at any time of year?

Yes. Coffee mornings can take place all year round, whenever it suits you and your community.

How do I get started?

You can sign up online, set up a fundraising page and download a free fundraising pack. This includes posters, invites, bunting and simple ideas to help you plan your event. Click here to sign up. 

Hold your own Coffee Morning

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