Jo's story – our Kitchen Table Day turned out better than our wedding!

I can remember vividly walking into Maggie’s for the first time. I had been so frightened and I didn’t know what was going to happen to me, but when I walked in there was a sense of comfort and I felt safe. 

Whilst I was out of my normal routine, Maggie’s became my new normal. It was lovely to just go and be able to chat to people around the kitchen table.

I was really lucky to also have some sessions with the psychologist. She helped me enormously, and not just me, she helped my family and gave me much more confidence as a parent to our young son, William.  

I try not to imagine what it would have been like without Maggie’s there, but I feel incredibly lucky to have had access to Maggie’s and everything they do.

Hosting a Kitchen Table Day 

It was around January, my husband Olly and I were chatting and I said I really wanted to do something for Maggie’s. We decided that in lieu of my 40th birthday that I missed out on because of treatment, we would organise a Kitchen Table Day party.  

Olly is a brilliant barbecue cook so we decided to pull out all the stops. We had salmon smoking on cedar wood, legs of lamb, trays of beautiful roasted vegetables, scallops; so many wonderful dishes. 

It was just such a lovely atmosphere: the sun was shining and there were lots of children running around. A lot of those people had been to our wedding but actually it turned out to be better than our wedding. It was just so relaxed. And by that point I’d had the all clear so I could just really enjoy myself.  

We wanted to raise as much money as we could for Maggie’s. So we asked everyone to donate what they wanted for the food. We also had a raffle with loads of amazing prizes. We raised over £3000 and I still can’t believe how much money we raised, it was incredible. It was a fantastic day.  

The feeling of raising money at our Kitchen Table Day is still the best thing that we’ve ever done.

To be able to give that to Maggie’s was just an incredible feeling. I don’t think it will ever, ever leave us.

Knowing that the money has gone to Maggie’s and will enable people to have the same support that I had is a never-ending good feeling.

We're here for you

If you or someone you love has cancer, we are here with you.

Come and see us at your nearest Maggie’s, call us on 0300 123 180 or email us at enquiries@maggies.org

Host a Kitchen Table Day

Host a coffee morning, afternoon tea or dinner party around your kitchen table on Friday 20 September and support people with cancer and those who love them. 

Find out more about Kitchen Table Day and register for your free pack.