Ethan Fletcher and mum Debbie prepare for Good Friday’s coffee morning at Mickleton
Ethan Fletcher and mum Debbie prepare for Good Friday’s coffee morning at Mickleton

THE often hair-raising cooking exploits on the celebrity charity version of The Great British Bake Off have inspired a dale youngster to organise his own fundraising event.

Across four weeks, the hapless celebs – including the likes of comedian Johnny Vegas and actor Greg Wise – put their culinary skills to the test in front of judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood as part of Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

Ten-year-old Bake Off fan Ethan Fletcher decided he wanted to help and has organised a coffee morning at Mickleton Village Hall on Good Friday, April 19.

“I got the fundraising pack and went off to see one of the members of the village hall committee to ask if I could use the hall and we got it for free as it’s a charity event,” said Ethan, who lives in the village.

The coffee morning will take place from 10am to noon. A donation on the door will get supporters a cuppa and cake or biscuits, with more on sale inside.

Ethan is also planning star baker and decorated biscuits competitions along with a raffle. In all, he hopes his efforts will raise more than £100 for Stand Up To Cancer.

Anyone willing to donate cakes for the coffee morning is welcome to take them along to the village hall for 9.45am on Friday.

“It’s the first time I have done anything like this. There’s been a bit more to organising it than I thought,” said the Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School pupil.

This has included producing leaflets and posters to publicise the event around the village, posting on social media and putting the details in his school newsletter.

Ethan is hoping for a good turn out. “Everyone is welcome. Just turn up.”

After this effort, Ethan will undertake another charity challenge later in the year when he takes part in the Junior Great North Run raising funds for the Heel and Toe charity which supports cerebral palsy sufferers.

Anyone planning to contribute a cake to the coffee morning is asked to email Ethan at camalarm100@gmail.com