No smoke, but plenty of steam and spice!

 It’s officially ‘No Smoking Day’ today – which could be a bit of an anti-climax from yesterday’s pancake fiesta! However, it is just as important as Shrove Tuesday. Smoking is the greatest cause of lung cancer in the world, and what better way to prove that quitting can be done by taking part of a nationwide ‘No Smoking Day’? For more information on what you can do you help lower the risks of lung cancer and start a non-smoking movement, visit this website: http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/smokers/index.htm. Also, if you’re a young smoker living in Essex and need help kicking the habit, there are weekly sessions held at the Colchester Cornerstone in Sir Isaacs Walk on Thursdays between 4pm and 5pm.

Speaking of Colchester, its very own Macmillan Fundraising Group is hosting a massive Charity Curry Night on the 14^th of April at the Ivory Spice Restaurant. The lovely Jan and Adrian Dearsley have organised the event to include a delectable Indian buffet as well as guest-performers ‘Richard and Mark’, who play everything from Glenn Miller to Take That! The event begins at 7pm and ends at 10.30pm, and tickets are selling fast at £16.95 each. For more information on this, please contact either Adrian or Jan via their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com//group.php?gid=48233319917.

Last week we gave you a rundown of the fundraising successes within the Norfolk and Suffolk community. More events are to come from Norfolk, such as the Bure Valley Railway Walk which is being held on the 9^th and 10th of April. This is the only walk where you’ll get the opportunity to catch a narrow-gauge Bure Valley steam train to your starting point, then take a picturesque stroll back along the railway path. You can choose to take a 3, 6, or 9 mile walk, and dogs and children are very welcome to come along. When you've finished your walk, you'll receive a certificate as a small token of our appreciation and enjoy some complimentary light refreshments along with your fellow walkers. To register online, visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Walkingevents/WalkingEvents.aspx. Alternatively, you can sign on for the walk by calling us on 01603 724360. Don’t forget to check out our twitter (@MacmillanAnglia) as well as the Macmillan Cancer Support in Norfolk (@Macmillannfk) for real-time updates.

If you’re interested in all things regal, then the fast approaching Royal Wedding could be a perfect opportunity for you to throw a fundraising party in the name of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Watch this space, as we will be cooking up tons of ideas for a street party in their honour, too. We want to hear from you so that all of our efforts can be combined to create the most memorable street party in Anglia, of 2011. This is Macmillan Cancer Support’s Centenary year, so we’ll be sure to pull out all the stops for every one of our fundraising events – come join us and be part of something big.