IT’S one of the best things about cold, dark February - cosying up with a brew, cake and your friends.

This year breast cancer support charity Breast Cancer Haven is asking everyone to embrace the cold and take part in The Big Tea Cosy.

The event will see companies and organisations across Hampshire take part, with bake-offs, knitting contests, silent auctions and raffles in aid of the Titchfield based centre - with special tips from Great British Bake Off winner Frances Quinn. 

The Big Tea Cosy ambassador said: “I am proud to be supporting Breast Cancer Haven’s Big Tea Cosy. February can be such a cold and miserable month so it is the perfect time to cosy up indoors with your friends or colleagues for a Big Tea Cosy party. 

“It’s such an easy way to raise money for a great charity that will make a real difference to the lives of people affected by breast cancer.”

Pamela Healy OBE, chief executive of Breast Cancer Haven, said: “This year, The Big Tea Cosy is going to be even cosier as we’ve teamed up with the world’s largest knitting supplier - LoveKnitting - and their incredible knitters to create a range of exclusive knitting patterns. 

“Tea pigs have provided tea bags for fundraising packs and Trumper’s Tea have created a special blend of tea to support Breast Cancer Haven.

“Our visitors tell us that visiting Breast Cancer Haven makes them feel safe, welcomed and incredibly well supported and we think that The Big Tea Cosy campaign sums this up perfectly.” 

More than 60,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Haven provides, completely free of charge, vital one-to-one support for thousands of breast cancer patients in the UK, with centres in London, Wessex, Worcester, Hereford and Yorkshire.

The Breast Cancer Haven teams work closely with NHS partners to go beyond medical treatment to help service users and their families cope with the wider impact of breast cancer through personalised, specialist care including everything from nutrition, financial advice and counselling, to exercise and complementary therapies. 

Signing up to take part is a piece of cake! Just visit:
breastcancerhaven.org.uk/forms/order-your-free-tea-cosy-kit to order or download your own fundraising pack. You can also text ‘COSY17 £5’ to 70070 to donate via text.

You can ‘make a brew for breast cancer’ between February 1-7.