On Saturday 5 November, CancerCare’s Chef Show will see an array of local chefs including Stuart Smith from Rogan at Home, Zach Sharpe from Oxen Park’s Manor House, Alan Forsyth from The Mill at Ulverston, Mark Satterthwaite from Base Restaurant, Stephen Hartley of Poppies Café & Bistro and Ash Wood of Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel, curate a delicious dinner for around 170 gastronomic guests.

All the chefs are giving up their time for free and the evening also includes entertainment from local comedian and actor Garry Gifford, a disco and auction of luxury items.

The charity’s last Chef Show, which took place in 2019 before the covid pandemic, raised more than £7,000 and the community contributed around £9,000 in “Gifts In Kind” through donations of time and equipment from businesses and volunteers.

All the money goes to provide professional counselling and therapy for local adults and children coping with a cancer diagnosis or bereavement. CancerCare has centres in Barrow, Kendal, Lancaster and Morecambe and also provide therapy to patients on oncology wards in local hospitals. Services are provided free of charge to the client, but the charity needs to raise the money to pay for them via donations and fundraising events such as the Chef Show.

CancerCare Director of Fundraising & Marketing Emma Athersmith: “The last Chef Show was such a success and we have been desperate for its return. Local businesses and people across Furness really got behind the last event and they have shown the same amazing support once again.

“Not does the Chef Show enable us to help thousands of people across the Morecambe Bay area left devasted by cancer or the loss of a loved one, it also helps showcase the wealth of quality cuisine the Furness Peninsula has to offer.”

It is also supported by sponsors The Farmers in Ulverston and catering supplier CaterKwik.