DO YOU love hosting tea parties?

Well here’s your chance to get involved by holding a tea party in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Care service in Dorset.

The Echo backed campaign is aiming to get hundreds of families, mums, dads, children and communities together in the next month.

Last year there were more than 220 parties held in and around Weymouth, Dorchester and West Dorset.

Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie in Dorset Amy Llewellyn said: “So far we have had a great response.

“But last year we had twice the amount of parties so we’d love more people to get involved.

“The parties can be anything from a small gathering with friends and family to full blown street parties.

“Considering how much fun everyone had in Dorset for the Royal wedding in April I think this is the perfect chance to get your communities together to raise money for a great cause.”

The first Blooming Great Tea Party will be held this Saturday in Preston.

For the second year Kym Barrow, 23, will be holding a party for friends and family at her home in memory of her Granma Peggy.

For Kym and her family the care they received from Marie Curie was so important because it gave her grandmother the dignity of being able to spend her last few days at home with three generations of the family.

Kym said: “Nan had fought cancer several times throughout her life; she was an incredibly strong woman but eventually the illness took hold and we knew the end was near. There was no way Nan was going to die in a hospital, she made that clear and the family supported her wish”

She says that the importance of being able to spend those final hours together with them in their own homes can’t be exaggerated.

Peggy was cared for by her family at the home and Marie Curie Nurses arrived at 10pm and cared for Peggy during the night to give her family chance to get a night’s sleep.

Kym said: “The Marie Curie Nurses gave Nan excellent care and the opportunity to die in a comfortable and familiar bed. On the night that she died, she had three generations of her family around her; it was a nice way to go”

Peggy’s family were so taken with the care they received from the Marie Curie Nurses they decided to hold an annual fundraiser in her memory.

Kym added:“We all struggled to come to terms with Nan’s death and the first anniversary was hard. We wanted to remember her by doing something positive, then we heard about Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party. My sister in law and I collect vintage china and we have a big conservatory and a nice garden so we threw ourselves into organising.

“Nan died on June 13, 2009 so she will be at the forefront of our minds when we host our tea party on June 11 this year.”

Peggy’s six children, 13 grandchildren 14 Great grandchildren & great great grandchild got together with other friends and relatives to celebrate her life at their tea party.

The party raised £508 in 2010 and the family are hoping this year will see more than 50 friends and family turn up.

Mrs Llewellyn from Marie Curie added: “Kym and her family have a special reason to host a Blooming Great Tea Party this summer and we are so grateful to them for their support.

“Whatever your reason, please consider taking part. Just £20 will enable us to provide a Marie Curie Nurse for an hour to look after someone with cancer or terminal illness in their own home here in Dorset”

Are you holding a tea party?

Let the Echo know if you are planning a Blooming Great Tea Party.

We are planning to feature the county’s tea parties in a special supplement. Readers will be able to buy the photos from the Echo and 50 per cent of the proceeds will go straight to Marie Curie.

If you are planning a party let Miriam Phillips know on 01305 830995 or email