Imagine the agony of having a seriously ill child - a child who needs vital treatment in hospital. Then imagine how much worse it would be if you had nowhere to stay nearby. If you had to risk splitting the family apart to stay with your child. That's where the Sick Children's Trust comes in - and they're launching an appeal to raise £100,000 by urging us to get baking for the cause.
What's it all about?
The idea is to hold a Big Chocolate Tea Party this May - anything from a cup of tea and a slice of cake with friends at home, to a chocolate themed bake off at work. Any money you raise will help the Sick Children's Trust provide 'home from home' accomodation and support for parents while their children are in hospital.
How can we help?
At the launch event at London's Grosvenor House hotel, master chocolatier Paul A Young and Bake Off winner Edd Kimber showed off some of their creations - including Edd's gorgeous 'Smores choux bun filled with chocolate custard and speculoos (pictured), and Paul's delicate Earl grey chocolate tarts. There were even chocolate and cucumber sandwiches. Their recipes - and many more - are available on the charity's website to give you some inspiration. Grosvenor House will also be selling a special chocolate cake during May, as part of its fundraising effort.
Is there more?
Yes! The charity will be recruiting some top chefs to take part in a Big Chocolate Brownie bid-off, creating their own batches of bespoke brownies to be sold off at auction. So even if you're no master baker - you can still support the cause.
You can have your cake and raise money too, then?
Paul Young calls the Big Chocolate Tea Party "a perfect opportunity to use my love of chocolate to fundraise in a fun and indulgent way, while supporting many families who are facing the most difficult of circumstances, miles from their home." TV presenter Sian Lloyd is another supporter - one who certainly loves her cake. "It's a fantastic campaign", she says. "It's guilt free chocolate at its best!"
The Big Chocolate Tea Party can happen any time in May. Fundraising packs and ideas can be downloaded from the Sick Childrens's Trust website - www.sickchildrenstrust.org/bigchoctea/
