A BEAMINSTER couple whose son died from cancer are preparing to serve up a fundraising feast.

Sue and Chris Sims are calling on people to join them and cook up some cash with a special Sunday Brunch for Stand Up To Cancer.

They are urging foodies and fundraisers alike to create a restaurant-style experience at home by hosting a brunch bonanza for their household – with family or housemates donating the bill to life-saving research.

Stand Up To Cancer is a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Sue and Chris, who run the Tangerine café and gallery in Beaminster, are stepping up to the stove because they know first-hand how important new discoveries and breakthroughs are to help more people survive.

Their son Dr Mark Sims, died in 2017 aged 28 following a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. He knew his time was short, but he decided to raise money for cancer research.

He survived skin cancer as a child only for it to return in 2015, and began fundraising from his hospital bed, saying he wanted to help patients of the future.

He wanted to try and raise £1,000 but in the end raised more than £100,000 by the time of his death in January 2017.

Despite not being given long to live, Mark was able to be the best man at three weddings and became engaged himself. During his early treatment he took part in a half marathon, he gave lectures about his diagnosis to medical students and spoke powerfully to journalists and the public to raise awareness.

He also recognised that as a qualified doctor, he was in a unique position to help shape the future. Once he reached £20,000, he chose to use the money to fund a Cancer Research UK PhD student.

Thousands of people followed his story through his blog posts and social media updates and today the fundraising total stands at an amazing £318,000.

The money has been used to further Cancer Research UK’s work across its skin cancer portfolio.

Mark, who worked at Croydon, St Helier and Kingston hospitals was recognised for his work in cancer awareness and fundraising before he died.

He candidly shared his fight on his blog, which his family have turned into a book called P.S. I have cancer.

His parents hold various events in their café to help showcase work including artists, crafters and writers from the area.

Sue said: “Every Sunday until the end of October we’ll have a healthy and tasty brunch item on the menu, which will be sold to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Helping Mark’s chosen charity is very important to us. It keeps his generous spirit alive.”

Supported by Channel 4 show Sunday Brunch, an array of celebrity chefs have donated recipes for the fundraiser.

Get a free fundraising kit at su2c.org.uk/brunch

n See www.bridportnews.co.uk for a tasty recipe for the event from co-host of Channel 4 show Sunday Brunch, Simon Rimmer.

Simon Rimmer’s Blueberry and Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Serves: 4

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

200g self-raising flour

50g caster sugar

1tsp bicarb

1 egg

50g melted butter

250ml milk

125g cottage cheese

225g blueberries

Zest 1 lemon

15g unsalted butter

Serve with a poached egg

Method

1. Mix the flour, bicarb and sugar together in a bowl.

2. In a separate bowl combine the egg, butter, milk, lemon and cheese, then add this to the flour mix.

3. Stir in the blueberries.

4. Lightly oil a frying pan and preheat over a medium heat. Spoon a small ladleful of the pancake batter into the pan and cook for one minute on each side, until golden.

5. Meanwhile, poach an egg per person in boiling water for 3-4 minutes.

6. Serve two pancakes per person, topped with one poached egg and a drizzle of maple syrup.