A Night of Coffee, Community & Care — How Lonely Llama Stood with Macmillan

The 30th of October 2025 will always stand out as a truly special moment for Lonely Llama CIC. As it brought something special to Caister-on-Sea: our Halloween Coffee Evening in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. What was meant to be just a fundraiser turned into a warm and powerful gathering — a true testament to what community can be when it comes together for a cause.

Why We Did It

Cancer affects so many of us. In the UK today, there are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer. That number is growing, and the need for compassion, care, and support has never been more urgent.

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the few organisations doing “whatever it takes” for people with cancer. They provide practical, emotional, and financial support from the moment someone receives a diagnosis — and they do this because of people like you, giving and caring.

In 2024 alone, Macmillan’s services reached 2.4 million people through their Support Line, local centres, online community, and more. And beyond that, their professionals carry out holistic needs assessments, ensuring people’s emotional, social, and practical needs are met.

What Happened at Our Evening

Hosted at The Lookout, Caister Lifeboat Station, our Halloween-themed event was rich in community spirit:

• Coffee and tea provided by the Lookout Café

• A great spread of cakes, traybakes, and savoury snacks - Provided by some of our amazing locals

• A cosy, thoughtful atmosphere — warm lights, gentle Halloween décor, and meaningful conversations

• Donation points (including a QR code) to raise money directly for Macmillan

• Space for people to connect, share stories, and simply be together

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised £542.35 for Macmillan — every penny helping them continue their vital work.

Why It Mattered

This evening wasn’t just about raising funds. It was a chance to build a space of connection. For some, it was about remembering someone they’ve lost. For others, it was about supporting friends or family going through cancer. And for many, it was just about being part of something kind, something bigger.

At Lonely Llama, we believe in building community — not just now, but into the future. That’s why we’re proud to work with GYUP (Great Yarmouth Unity Project) on a Cancer Screening Initiative, promoting early detection and cancer awareness locally. We want to help create a network of “cancer champions” within our community, and we’re building a cancer resource section on lonelyllama.co.uk to support that mission.

Macmillan’s Impact — Why Your Support Changes Lives

When you support Macmillan, you’re supporting real people in real moments of need. Here’s how your donations help:

• Their trained professionals support tens of thousands through emotional & practical services. Their Macmillan Buddies connect volunteers with people living with cancer — in 2024, they supported over 3,600 people.

• Their Support Line, Information Centres, and Online Community helped hundreds of thousands more.

• Financial help from Macmillan helps people navigate the real-world financial burdens of cancer, from benefits advice to grants.

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Thank You — From Lonely Llama to You

We want to say a heartfelt thank you:

• To everyone who came, shared a coffee, and made the evening meaningful.

• To the bakers who donated cakes, cookies, and treats — your generosity fuelled the event (literally!).

• To The Lookout Café, for hosting us and supporting the night.

• To our supporters who gave donations, scanned QR codes, and showed up in spirit even if they couldn’t be there.

Because of you, we helped raise money for Macmillan, but more than that — we built connection. We showed that in Caister, in Great Yarmouth, there is a community that cares.

What’s Next

This Evening was only the beginning. Lonely Llama CIC is committed to our GYUP Cancer Screening Initiative — bringing awareness, encouragement, and practical support to our community. We will soon launch our cancer resource page on lonelyllama.co.uk, full of information, advice, and ways for people to get involved.

If you couldn’t make it, but still want to support: you can donate, share our mission, or volunteer with us. Together, we can keep making a difference.

Lonely Llama stands with Macmillan. Together we thrive 🧡🖤