Dundee bakery Clark’s has joined a national breast cancer fundraiser by selling “boob doughnuts”.
The firm’s efforts to raise awareness of the disease have been praised by locals and also backed by TV stars Gemma Atkinson and Giovanna Fletcher.
The five-day charity event kicked off this week, with women from across the UK taking part in a 100km trek through the Scottish Highlands to raise money for CoppaFeel!.
The trek – organised by I’m A Celebrity 2020 winner Giovanna – is taking selected participants from a base camp in Glen Lyon, near Aberfeldy, on daily hikes.
Destinations include Kinloch Rannoch, Schiehallion, the Roy Roy Way, Loch Freuchie, and Glen Lyon’s Munro Circular before a Friday finish at the Ben Lawyers summit.
Participants are divided into teams of 30, each led by a celebrity challenge leader.
Clark’s got in the mix after Chloe Clark – wife of owner and director Jonathon – joined ex-Hollyoaks and Emmerdale actress Gemma’s team.
Chloe said: “I wanted to take part in the trek because it’s promoting awareness of breast cancer in young women and teaches them how to check themselves properly, which is hugely important.”
Helping to fundraise
Helping to support Chloe’s fundraising effort, the team at Clark’s have been making “boob doughnuts” every day this week and they’ve been popular with locals.
Jonathon, and Clark’s operations manager Daniel Bunce, said the idea only came to them at the start of the week, with the aim to raise an extra £1,000 through doughnut sales alone for Chloe’s fundraising.
Jonathon said: “My wife is doing the charity walk this week and it got me brainstorming and thinking about different ideas. I went online and put in ‘boob doughnuts’ and it came up – so we’ve copied it.
“We thought we’ll sell them at £2 and give the full amount to charity. At the same time my wife is doing the walk – so I thought I would do the easier side and just sell the doughnuts.
Daniel added: “Normally we sell our doughnuts at £1.05 and thought, if we are going to do something let’s up the price a little bit and make everybody aware of such a good cause.”
Selling fast
Doughnuts have been selling out fast across the bakery’s nine branches, with in-house bakers rattling through around 150 a day.
Daniel continued: “Yesterday we probably sold about 150 or 160 across all nine of our shops in total. We’ve pretty much sold out in every shop throughout the week.
“It’s been really good. The staff have been really behind it and it’s just something totally new for us and will make everyone aware of how great a cause it is.”
Following the third day of the trek, Jonathon drove to the ladies’ base camp at Glen Lyon to deliver 120 of the boob doughnuts and macaroni pies.
“Yesterday I delivered 120 up to the girls up at their base camp in Glen Lyon and they were all going crazy for it,” said Jonathon.
“It gave them a wee sugar boost part way through the walk – that and the macaroni pies.
“After this I think we’re going to look at different causes – anything we can do with cakes.”
Continuing through the weekend
Expecting to continue making and selling the doughnuts until Sunday, Daniel also hopes to add the treats to their online offering for anyone who orders Clark’s goodies through their website to be delivered to their door.
But making “boob doughnuts” is hard work.
Jonathon added: “The cake decorator says they keep getting sore hands from making so many nipples!
“But it’s certainly been a success in terms of coming up with new ideas and giving something back.”