I had so much fun last year when I held a Kitchen Table Day and participated in Maggie's Aberdeen Culture Crawl that I decided to do it all over again for 2019. In January 2016 my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now doing well and has a really positive mindset following a double mastectomy and a tough couple of years of treatment including both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It's only when you are faced with something like this at close quarters that you come to appreciate the network of care that is available outwith the NHS. For our whole family Maggie's provided practical, emotional and social support. It really is everyone's home of cancer care and it feels only right to give something back.
Maggie's Kitchen Table Day is a fundraiser which officially takes place at the end of March, but in reality you can hold at any time. Last year I combined it with taking part in Culture Crawl as a night time 10 mile walk didn't seem all that challenging and I felt a wee bit of a fraud asking for sponsorship to undertake it. However I'm more than happy to solicit donations in return for tea, coffee, cake and fine pieces! Fuelled by a morning of cake I would then undertake the Aberdeen culture crawl that night with my BFF.
What is Culture Crawl?
Maggie’s Culture Crawl is part night walk, part cultural adventure. Think sponsored walk + doors open day + Edinburgh Fringe. Food and drink along the way, lots of orange and a great night out for a fantastic cause.
My Kitchen Table Day Menu
🍋 Lemon Drizzle Traybake from Mary Berry's Baking Bible
💚GF Pistachio and Date Bliss Balls - recipe from Ghillie Bashan's latest book Spirit and Spice
🏔Caramel Nut Slice - recipe from Kirsten Gilmour's The Mountain Cafe Cookbook
🥧Bakewell Tart - Mary Berry's easy recipe
🍋Lemon Macarons with lemon curd butter cream
💚Pistachio Macarons
🧀Cheese & Red Pepper Scones - made by my daughter Iona, recipe from her Nat5 Home Economics class
💕Rhubarb and Ginger Loaf Cake
👣 Cheesy Feet (Parmesan Biscuits and foot cookie cutters)
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookies - made by my son Kyle using the BA Best Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe
Big thanks to both my teenagers for all of their baking effort and assistance. The table would have been really rather sparse without their help.
Full and fuelled by cake it was time to head into Aberdeen and start crawling - thankfully not literally! Over 600 participants congregated at The Beach Leisure Centre to form a sea of orange. It was only at this point that we received our route maps and found out exactly where we were headed. Following a warm up and speeches we were off. A rainbow on the beachfront lulled us into a false sense of security before the heavens opened!
The ten official stopping points were
- Start - Beach Leisure Centre
- Marine Operations Centre
- Inverted Studio
- Torry Library
- Breakout Games
- Albury Sports Centre
- Queens Cross Church
- Maggie's Aberdeen
- St Mary's Cathedral
- Finish - Links Ice Arena
Part of the attraction of Culture Crawl is the promise of food and drink en route. We kicked off with burgers in the pouring rain at Footdee followed by Fierce Beer at Inverted Studio. Mackie's Ice cream was served up at Torry Library followed by cocktails from Blackford Craft Distillery in the Arches. Pimm's on the rather soggy lawn at Albury Sports Centre and very welcome tea, coffee and funcy pieces at Maggies. Finally a celebratory glass of Art Deco Prosecco, sandwiches and sausage rolls at Links Ice Arena as we collected our finishers medals and goody bags.
Entertainment was provided by Fazz Junk band from Albyn School at the start, a silent disco in Torry Library, participatory art with Alison Chandler at Albury and performances from Music 4U at Queens Cross Church. However the absolute highlight for me was the Bucksburn Academy Steel Drum band who performed at Maggie's. Those guys were amazing!!!
Maggie's request that you commit to raise a minimum of £100 in order to participate in the Culture Crawl. Last year I raised £563 which I was absolutely delighted with but didn't expect to be able to repeat. However I'm blown away to say that this year I'm at £553, just £10 off last years total. Thank you SO MUCH to all who contributed.
The whole day from cakes to culture was emotional and uplifting. To see so many people coming together for such a great cause whist sharing fun and friendship and all that is good about Aberdeen was an amazing experience from start to finish. I'm already looking forward to next year for more of the same!
Meantime my Just Giving Page remains open if anyone would like to add to the total.
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