National charity, Epilepsy Action, is urging tea drinkers around the UK to get their cups and saucers at the ready, in preparation for National Tea Break 2009.
This year's event, on Friday 23 October, marks the seventh time running for the grand scale tea party. The event has seen support from numerous celebrities including comedians Victoria Wood and Jo Brand, fitness expert Rosemary Conley and top chef Antony Worrall Thompson. National Tea Break is an annual opportunity for tea lovers to get together to help raise vital funds for Epilepsy Action, simply by drinking tea and eating cake.
Since 2003, 800 Tea Breaks have taken place, raising an impressive £88,000 to help fund the vital information and advice services provided by Epilepsy Action. This year the charity hopes to make National Tea Break the biggest yet and break the £100,000 barrier.
Tea-expert, Jane Pettigrew, is supporting this year's National Tea Break. Jane said: "Tea is so much more than just a drink! It creates a focus for all our favourite gatherings with friends and family. It is so intertwined with British social life that it is impossible to think of one without the other. It comforts and satisfies; refreshes and revives; and has an almost magical power to keep us alert but calm. No wonder it's the nation's favourite beverage!"
Michael White, fundraising events officer at Epilepsy Action, added: "Britons are widely regarded throughout the world as a nation of tea drinkers. National Tea Break celebrates this tradition. It is a fantastic way to bring tea lovers around the country together for their daily brew, whilst raising vital funds for a great cause. Why not be one of the hundreds of people celebrating this very British tradition and help the 456,000 people living with epilepsy in the UK?”
“Invite your friends and family along for a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake and help us reach our target of £100,000. Don’t worry if you can't host a tea break on 23 October; just choose a day that best suits you.”
Everyone who registers to be a Tea Break organiser will receive an organiser's pack. These will contain an organiser's guide full of useful hints and tips, posters to promote the event, invitation cards, celebrity recipe cards, and lots more. Downloadable materials can also be found by visiting the official National Tea Break website www.epilepsy.org.uk/teabreak.
Epilepsy is the UK’s most common neurological condition affecting an estimated one in 131 people. Last year Epilepsy Action directly helped over 685,500 people through a range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050 and award-winning website, www.epilepsy.org.uk
For more information about National Tea Break, or to register for an organiser’s pack, visit www.epilepsy.org.uk/teabreak or call Michael White, fundraising events officer, on 0113 210 8800.