MACMILLAN Cancer Support has issued an urgent plea to people in Glasgow after the funds raised from its flagship charity event are expected to plummet by 75%.

Last year people across Greater Glasgow & Clyde raised £398,300 by taking part in a Macmillan Coffee Morning.

This year, figures show the number of people planning to hold a Coffee Morning across the city and surrounding areas has fallen by a staggering 75%.

The charity now fears there will be an equivalent drop in funds raised to pay for its vital services.

Janice Preston, Head of Services at the charity, said it is facing the toughest year in its 109-year history.

She said: "There has never been a more terrifying time in recent history to receive a cancer diagnosis with disruption and delays to treatment and fears of increased risk of becoming infected with coronavirus.

“At Macmillan we’re facing a possible tsunami of demand coming towards us this autumn, as the cancer system gets moving again and the backlog of delayed diagnoses begins to be dealt with.

"Worryingly this increased need for support would come at a time when our fundraised income has dropped significantly."

Some 98% of Macmillan’s income is from donations and events like Coffee Morning.

The picture is similar across the UK, with early figures showing sign-ups are down by around two-thirds.

The £27.5 million raised in 2019 is expected to fall to under £8m this year - the lowest amount Coffee Morning will have raised in 11 years.

Macmillan bosses fear supporters do not know the event is going ahead - and are urging people to still take part.

Janice added: "It’s no exaggeration to say Macmillan and people with cancer have never needed the public’s help more than we do right now.”

Helen Maxwell, from Johnstone, has held a Macmillan coffee morning for the last three years.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and now in remission, Helen insisted that nothing was going to stop her event from going ahead.

She said: “We are currently in organisation mode with our coffee morning event and looking to host in October.

"We’ll be holding it at Spateston Bowling Club as soon as it’s allowed and will be making sure we follow all the social distancing guidelines.

"I was helped by Macmillan when I was diagnosed with cancer five years ago, they were just amazing.

"I used to go to the local Macmillan drop in where you could sit and have a coffee and talk, it was such a huge help.

“The charity is very much part of the community here.

"They’re in the libraries where I live and right across the whole of Glasgow. I cannot imagine not having their services in place for people going through a cancer experience, the help and support they give people is very much needed.”

The 63-year-old mother and grandmother encourages the whole community to get involved in her coffee morning.

She added: "Three members of our bowling club sadly passed away from cancer this year, it’s been incredibly sad.

"So, this year’s coffee morning will be in their memory and we will do them proud.”

Kirsty Whiteside, who is the Development Manager at Macmillan’s Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) and the Long-Term Cancer (LTC) services in Glasgow, also encouraged people to sign up.

She said: “Glasgow has seen a significant reduction in referrals during lockdown, as people have not been attending their GP, A&E, outpatient clinics and cancer treatment slowed or stopped altogether.

"We know that referrals will increase as services resume and we are ready for the that, with a commitment that nobody will go unsupported."

Macmillan is encouraging people to take part however suits them, from having a socially distanced Coffee Morning safely from their doorstep to setting up a virtual Coffee Morning online.

Those who prefer to take part in more active fundraising events can also sign up for the first ever Coffee Morning Challenge, tackling a run, walk or cycle to raise cash.

Meanwhile social media lovers are being urging people to take a selfie raising a mug for people living with cancer, while making a donation.

To sign up, visit coffee.macmillan.org.uk