FOODIES from across Furness enjoyed a special night of comedy and cuisine and raised more than £18,000 for a cancer charity.

On Saturday, November 5, CancerCare’s Chef Show saw more than 170 guests enjoy a six-course meal specially created by six chefs from south Cumbria who showcased their skills live on stage at Ulverston’s Coronation Hall.

The menu included an amuse bouche by Steve Harley from Poppies Café & Bistro, watermelon gazpacho by Mark Satterthwaite from Base, salt beets and smoked eel by Stuart Smith from Home by Simon Rogan, pork fillet, cheek and belly by Ash Wood from Castle Green Hotel, treacle roasted lamb by Alan Forsyth from The Mill and chocolate with spiced plum and vanilla mille feuille by Zach Sharpe from Manor House.

The evening featured laughs aplenty from host and compere, comedy actor Garry Gifford and guests danced late into the night to tunes from DJ Pete Garbacz.

There was also a poignant presentation from former CancerCare client Katrina Lawson Evans who gave an emotional speech about how the charity’s team of specialist young people’s therapists helped her children Daniel and Eva, at its centre on Duke Street in Barrow, following the death of their father Darryll to cancer in 2021.

CancerCare’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing Emma Athersmith said: “The Chef Show is special as it represents a real community effort thanks to all the local businesses, people and volunteers who give up their time, donate ingredients and loan us equipment for free.

“Not only was it a fabulous night, but it does a wonderful job raising awareness of the services we provide to local people coping with a cancer diagnosis or loss of a loved one and, of course, raising the money that enables us to help thousands of people every year.”

The event was sponsored by Lake District Farmers, CaterKwik, The Farmer’s Arms, Ulverston, the Ship Inn Bardsea and McClure's.

To find out more about CancerCare’s services visit cancercare.org.uk or call 03330 150628.