A STALWART cancer fundraiser is to throw open her garden for the 11th annual event.

Barry resident Caca Collard has raised more than £14,000 for Breast Cancer Care by inviting her family and friends to join her for a strawberry tea at her home over the years.

Mrs Collard, 56, hopes this year’s event will prove a success and her family is appealing for raffle and auction prizes for the July 23 event.

Daughter, Gemma Collard said: “Starting off in 2006 with a very modest Strawberry Afternoon Tea event in her home, raising a around £200, the event has now grown to over 100 people attending on the day, where a huge raffle, games and an auction takes place.

“It’s become a year-long effort to collect quality freebies via social media, including teddies, bric-a-brac and toys for sale as well as asking businesses throughout the year for their support by means of a donation to the raffle or auction.

“We’ve been gifted things such as a mountain bike, a week’s long hot tub hire, gift vouchers and goods alike, which all do their bit in rising vital funds.”

The main event, the Strawberry Tea is ticketed and held in Mrs Collard’s garden. It encourages friends to get together, share tea, and participate in games including bingo.

There are stalls on the day, with the main fundraising moments being the big raffle, the even bigger auction and the bric-a-brac sale.

Miss Collard said: “Caca is looking for generous crafters, small or big businesses to donate a little something to help on her way, Caca’s Strawberry Teas’ philosophy is ‘A little from a lot goes a long way’ and this event really is about people coming together, celebrating what’s good in our town and giving something back.

“Donating just a little something, perhaps a gift voucher for your services or something else entirely is a great way to reach perhaps a new audience for local businesses but also that sense of pride in the bigger fundraising picture.”

To donate call 07860 577767, or email misscollard@icloud.com to arrange. Visit breastcancercare.org.uk