Sisters Jemima and Annabelle Jordan found the recipe for fundraising success when they started baking cakes for disadvantaged children.
Little did they know that three years on their cookery skills would inspire a new charity which is now helping bereaved youngsters in Macclesfield.
Mum Katie and her daughters set up Dream Beams which has made a staggering £102,100 donation to East Cheshire Hospice to fund its Childhood Bereavement Service.
An exclusive Dream Beams Ball at Merrydale Manor was the culmination of lots of hard work by Katie, the charity’s chair, her trustees and events committee.
Katie, from Henbury, said: “We’re a family driven by challenge and always wanting to push ourselves.
“The girls would bake for weeks and want to help other children who aren’t as fortunate as themselves. Jemima had the bright idea we should all get involved and we only registered the charity in March.
“Dream Beams aims is to shed beams of light on to other children through fundraising events and supporting local charities.”
The Hospice’s Childhood Bereavement Service was the perfect fit, especially as a five-year Big Lottery grant used for funding had expired.
Katie said: “As a young teenager I lost close relatives so know how devastating it can be and how incredibly difficult the journey is. That’s why I’m so passionate about this cause.
“The Ball far exceeded our expectations and the trustees want to thank everyone who supported us so generously in many different ways.”
Main sponsors were Quanta Capital, Jordan Fishwick Exclusive and Vincentius. Donors also included Rolls-Royce Manchester, Boodles, Amazon, Mistral Gin, Coggles, Pinches Medical, Matalan, Waitrose and Virgin Atlantic.
Neil Travis, General Manager, Amazon Manchester, said: “Dream Beams does such vital work supporting children across Cheshire and when we heard about the Ball in aid of the Hospice’s Childhood Bereavement Service we jumped at the opportunity to offer our support.
“We donated 20 Echo devices for the ball raffle and £1,000 to the charity fund and hope the donation helps the team provide life-changing services to the community. ”
Guests included the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs MBE KStJ, President of East Cheshire Hospice, and the then Tatton MP Esther McVey.