On Saturday 19th October 2019 a sea of pink flooded The Spires in Barnet in the shape of the Cherry Lodge tombola stall. This joyful pink tombola event is held each year by Cherry Lodge Cancer Care in October in recognition of this being national Breast Cancer Awareness month. Its purpose is to increase awareness of breast cancer, give people a bit of pink fun, and raise money to help Cherry Lodge continue to provide its many cancer information and support services completely free of charge.
The fresh and invigorating weather attracted a large number of people to the tombola stall outside WH Smith. When the fun began at 11am there were some 180 pink items to play for – more than ever before! Our photos were all taken early in the day when the stall looked absolutely fabulous and before Tina and the first team of volunteers became too busy to think of anything other than running the tombola. Other teams of volunteers took over during the day and were almost run off their feet coping with the crowds and keeping things going until around 3pm.
People were very generous and keen to try their luck. One young man was so successful in winning that the stall looked quite empty after he had finished. Excited by his success he went into WH Smith where he bought a lottery scratch card, won a pound and immediately came back to the tombola, only to win another prize! How sad that all volunteers were kept so busy that not one of them took a photograph of that happy young lad.
Many thanks to the members of staff and volunteers (12 in all) who set up and helped run this event and to all who so generously donated the pink items which went like hot cakes. Some of the many people who visited the stall already knew of Cherry Lodge, others took away leaflets and asked questions. The event raised in the region of £500 which is a record: a great big pink record!
Click on the small images below to see larger, complete photographs.
