Pickering Farm Shop and Café’s Charity Quiz Night Raised Over £1,200 for Vital Causes

There’s nothing quite like a local get-together, especially when it’s for a good cause. The team at Cedarbarn, a popular farm shop and café in Pickering, recently showed everyone how it’s done. They hosted a charity quiz night that wasn't just a bit of fun, but also a massive success for two incredibly important charities.

A huge amount of money was raised, well over a grand in fact. The community came together to support Lucy’s Legacy and Breast Cancer Now, proving that a good quiz, some tasty food, and a bit of community spirit can make a real difference. It’s brilliant to see a local business like this farm shop putting so much effort into helping others.

A proper good quiz night in Pickering

On Friday, 20th February, the atmosphere at Cedarbarn was buzzing. Around 80 people packed into the Thornton Road venue, all ready to put their general knowledge to the test. And what’s a classic British quiz night without some proper grub? The team served up a delicious pie and pea supper, which surely helped get the brain cells working. You can't beat a pie and pea supper on a chilly evening. The event, which has become known as the Cedarbarn quiz night, was a sell-out success.

Leading the proceedings was the local quizmaster and Cedarbarn team member, Michael Kipling. A good quizmaster makes all the difference, keeping the energy up and the questions flowing. After a hard-fought battle of wits, the champions were crowned. The winning team, led by a delighted Jennifer Downing, celebrated their victory. But really, everyone was a winner that night, because the main goal was to raise as much money as possible. The community spirit in Pickering was on full display, with everyone chipping in to support the charity event.

The amazing charities getting a boost

The whole point of the quiz night was to support two charities that do fantastic work. The proceeds from the evening were split equally between Lucy’s Legacy and Breast Cancer Now. Lucy’s Legacy is a charity that offers vital support to people struggling with maternal mental health issues. This is such an important cause, helping new parents navigate a really tough time. It was especially meaningful to have Ann Mulholland, Lucy's Mum, and Faye Wheldon, Lucy's sister, there on the night, representing the charity and seeing the community's support first-hand. Also present were Sarah Kelly, the owner of Puddleducks Nursery, and Sarah Monkman, showing the wide network of community support.

The other half of the funds went to Breast Cancer Now, a charity dedicated to research and support for those affected by breast cancer. This cause had a very personal connection for the Cedarbarn team. Jody Marton, who helped arrange the raffle prizes, is currently fundraising for the charity following her own diagnosis of cancer in December 2024. A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event, and having charities like Breast Cancer Now to turn to for support and to fund research is absolutely essential. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended and bought raffle tickets, the final fundraising total hit an incredible £1,240. That's over one thousand two hundred pounds going towards these amazing causes. Lauren Turnbull, the assistant general manager who organised the event, said: “Huge thanks to everyone who supported this great event in aid of two deserving charities, and thanks to Jody Marton and Faye Wheldon for arranging the raffle prizes, which took our fundraising total to £1,240.”

Lauren also explained the focus of the fundraising:

Proceeds from the quiz were shared equally between Lucy’s Legacy and Breast Cancer Now. Lucy’s Legacy raises funds to support people struggling with maternal mental health issues, and Jody Marton is fundraising for the research and support charity, Breast Cancer Now, following her own diagnosis in December 2024.

More than just a one-off

This fantastic quiz night isn’t a one-time thing for the Cedarbarn team. They have a brilliant track record when it comes to charity work. In just the last two years, this dedicated team has raised an astonishing £43,000. That money has gone on to help a number of brilliant organisations, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Prostate Cancer UK, and many other local charities that do great work in the community.

And they’re not stopping there. The next big event is already in the diary. On Friday, 1st May, Cedarbarn will host a Race Night. This time, the money raised will go towards Sabrina Coultas’s ‘Ride of Their Lives’ campaign, which is also in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. It's clear that this farm shop team is deeply committed to making a positive impact. They have consistently raised money for organisations fighting cancer, from breast cancer to prostate cancer, showing a broad commitment to this vital area of charity work.

The team behind the scenes

An event like the Cedarbarn quiz night doesn't just happen by itself. It takes a lot of hard work and a dedicated team. The driving force behind this successful evening was the farm shop's assistant general manager, Lauren Turnbull. She put in the effort to organise a seamless and enjoyable event for everyone involved. The whole team at Cedarbarn played their part, from serving the pie and pea supper to helping with the logistics. It’s this kind of team effort that makes community events so special.

Of course, the fundraising total got a massive boost from the raffle, which was made possible by the hard work of Jody Marton and Faye Wheldon, who is also known as Lucy's sister. Their efforts in gathering prizes helped push the amount raised to that fantastic £1,240 figure. It’s a brilliant example of how a community can pull together, have a great time, and raise a significant amount of money for charity. The team at Cedarbarn has set a high bar, showing what’s possible when people are passionate about supporting causes like Lucy’s Legacy and Breast Cancer Now. The commitment of this farm shop and its wonderful team is something to be celebrated.