A father from Coalville, diagnosed with incurable cancer, is co-hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning with his wife to thank the 'incredible' Macmillan nurses who supported him.

Inderjit Bajaj was diagnosed with a rare nasal cancer in 2018.

After a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy he was given the all clear but the cancer returned in 2019 and had spread to his lungs.

He is currently undergoing another course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try and shrink the tumours, however the cancer is incurable.

Despite the prognosis which has left him with breathing and mobility problems, the 70 year-old is busier than ever championing Macmillan in his local community.

Together with his wife Sumon they are hosting a 'takeaway' Macmillan coffee morning for more than 100 neighbours and baking cakes for the Macmillan nurses at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Inderjit has also been doing outreach work in the Asian community to raise awareness of cancer and the support Macmillan can offer.

He also volunteers at a food bank to help the homeless.

Inderjit said: "I don't know how long I've got, but I just want to fulfil my life.

"We were devastated when I got the diagnosis, no one wants to get that news, but I am feeling quite positive. I'm a fighter.

"I feel like I owe Macmillan because they have been there from day one when I was diagnosed.

"My Macmillan head and neck nurse Tracy Robinson has been so helpful every step of the way and supported me and my family in every aspect of my life.

"As well as helping me understand the medical side of things, she also organised for me to see a dietician and go to a support group.

"We had a Macmillan befriender too who came to help us at home and support us both through a time when we were feeling very overwhelmed with everything.

"It lifted our spirits. We can't thank them enough."

Inderjit and Sumon have delivered leaflets to more than 100 houses in his local community inviting neighbours to his socially distanced 'take-away' Macmillan Coffee Morning on Saturday (19 Sept) outside their home in Coalville.

As well as providing homemade cake, tea and coffee, the family will also be making some savoury treats including samosas.

Their daughter Gitanjali and son-in-law Paras will also be helping out on the day.

After the coffee morning is over, Inderjit plans to resume outreach work in his local Asian community.

He said: "Cancer is a taboo subject in many Asian communities. People don't want to talk openly about it.

"The younger generations are a bit more transparent but people in their sixties and seventies are very traditional and keep things to themselves.

"I have been visiting the Sikh temples and other places of worship, talking to them to raise awareness about Macmillan and the support they can provide in all aspects of everyday life."

Macmillan says it's never needed the support of people in Leicestershire more, as new figures reveal an expected 74 percent drop in income from its flagship fundraising event.

Last year people in Leicestershire raised £284,200 by taking part in a Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning to fund its vital services, including Macmillan nurses and patient grants.

This year, figures show the number of people planning to hold a Coffee Morning across the county has fallen by a staggering 74 percent leading to the charity worrying there will be an equivalent fall in money raised.

The picture is similar across the UK, with early figures showing sign-ups are down by around two-thirds (68 percent).

The £27.5m raised in 2019 is expected to fall to under £8m this year - the lowest amount the coffee morning will have raised in 11 years.

The charity fears its supporters don't realise the event is still going ahead – albeit in a new virtual or socially distanced format – and is urging people to find out about the new ways to take part.

Francesca Pearson, Macmillan Fundraising Manager for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "There has never been a more terrifying time in recent history to receive a cancer diagnosis with disruption and delays to treatment and fears of increased risk of becoming infected with coronavirus.

"A huge 98 percent of Macmillan's income is from donations and events like Coffee Morning.

"While Coffee Morning can't take place in exactly the same way as before this year, there are still lots of ways to get involved.

"At Macmillan we're facing a possible tsunami of demand coming towards us this autumn, as the cancer system gets moving again and the backlog of delayed diagnoses begins to be dealt with.

"Worryingly this increased need for support would come at a time when our fundraised income has dropped significantly.

"We're facing the hardest year in our 109-year history.

"It's no exaggeration to say Macmillan and people with cancer have never needed the public's help more than we do right now."

Macmillan is encouraging people to take part however suits them, from having a socially distanced Coffee Morning safely from their doorstep to setting up a virtual Coffee Morning online.

Those who prefer to take part in more active fundraising events can also sign up for the first ever Coffee Morning Challenge, tackling a run, walk or cycle to raise cash.

Meanwhile social media lovers are being urging people to take a selfie raising a mug for people living with cancer, while making a donation.

You can sign up here.