19 March 2025
"Within the room I spoke to several people saying, 'Oh, my granddaughter survived it,' or 'My husband, without your research, he wouldn't be here,'" recalls Viv Chadwick, Secretary of the Camborne local committee of Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
According to CRUK, there are more than 385,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year. "Cancer Research UK is well-placed to achieve donations from the public since many people know someone affected by the disease," adds Mike Wills, Chairman of CRUK Camborne Local Committee.
The Big Breakfast is held every first Saturday in March at Camborne Wesley Methodist Church in the South West Peninsula Methodist District, with hundreds of community members gathering to enjoy a hearty, full English breakfast while supporting cancer research.
"We can seat 96 people comfortably on the church premises. We use a rolling system – people turn up and get shown to a table – and we don't rush them. They often see friends they haven't seen for a while and have a chat while they're eating."
Started by Mansell Williams from the Camborne Wesley Methodist Church congregation in 2003, the Big Breakfast has established itself as one of the most successful fundraising initiatives for Cancer Research UK in the country. For the third year in a row, it was recognised as the biggest fundraising local group in the UK. "Every breakfast served is a step towards beating cancer together," confirms Viv.
For just £6, attendees enjoyed a generous full English breakfast, preceded by cereal or fruit juice with unlimited tea, coffee and toast. Many visitors chose to donate above the asking price, with £10 or even £20 notes being handed over in support of the cause.
Beyond breakfast, visitors could participate in additional fundraising activities including a cake stall, raffle and competitions such as "guess the weight of a cake" or "name the toy".
Between 40 and 50 people contribute to the day's success, from those cooking in the kitchen to volunteers washing dishes and staffing the various stalls. "The church community is heavily involved alongside the committee in staging the event", says Viv.
Perhaps most remarkable is that the event operates with virtually no overhead costs. "Everything raised is passed to the charity," Viv emphasises. "All the food is donated by local businesses and Camborne Wesley Methodist Church allows us the use of the Wesley Centre and its facilities free of charge."
Beyond the financial contribution, which is substantial with approximately 76 pence of every pound donated to CRUK available to beat cancer, the Big Breakfast has become a significant social event within the community, drawing participants from as far as Penzance and Truro.
