Make a cuppa for a cause this June, just like Samantha

Hosting a Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea doesn’t have to just happen on the official day, it can be done any time throughout May or June—as host Samantha Torilla has planned!

On 20 June, Samantha has organised to gather with her friends and family for a Biggest Morning Tea in honour of her father, Leonard, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 54 from multiple myeloma, and her friend Marilyn who passed away from lung and brain cancer in March at the age of 75.

Having already participated in other cancer fundraisers this year, Samantha says she jumped at the chance to sign up and host a Biggest Morning Tea with Cancer Council. Although it’s her first one and she admits to being a “little nervous”, she hopes it will be a day to remember.

“As a complete daddy’s girl, my dad’s cancer diagnosis broke my heart, and it of course greatly affected my family. It has been one of the hardest moments in my life to watch my father go through treatments and the affects it had on him and then having him pass away,” she explains.

“After taking part in one fundraiser earlier this year and raising $1,000 I felt inspired to do more, so when I saw that Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea was coming up, I signed up straight away.

“I chose to host in June as I did the other fundraiser earlier in the year and wanted a bit more time between events to be able to plan the best event I could to raise as much as possible through my morning tea.

“It is also my dad’s birthday month, so it seemed fitting.”

During her planning, Samantha chose to host with a theme—a Mad Hatter theme!

“I chose the Mad Hatter theme because it goes hand in hand with a tea party and I can really make a day of it with decorations and entertainment.

“Guests are encouraged to dress to theme and everyone is very excited. I’ve also had amazing support from local businesses, including Belly Dance Amethyst who have kindly donated their studio as the venue for the day and businesses Save The Date Adelaide and Raso’s Castles and Amusements who have donated amazing themed decorations and tables for the event.

“I’ve also been very lucky to have performers and artists donate their time.

“It is going to be a massive event with performances, free face painting and henna art, raffles, prizes, a photo wall, complimentary gift and of course plenty of cake and tea.”

Although the official date for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea has been and gone, Samantha encourages other South Australians to host in June just like her.

I definitely encourage others to choose a different date if the official date in May doesn’t work for them. The more teas that are held the more funds that will be raised for this very important cause.

“It means everything to me to be able to raise funds for those affected by cancer,” she says.

“I will do anything I can to be able to help families going through what mine did and hopefully help make a change for the better to the impact of cancer in the future.”

To find out more about Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, to donate or sign up to host in June just like Samantha, visit https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/.