A PENSIONER has had her favourite cake recipe - which is named after the Queen - selected for a national fundraising campaign.

Helen Marks, 70, first made her version of the Elizabeth Sponge Cake during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 for fellow residents at Cliveden Gages in Taplow.

It went down a storm at the over 55s accommodation, with Mrs Marks not being able to eat a crumb of it herself.

Now the recipe has been chosen by blood cancer charity, Bloodwise, to be part of it’s new ‘Tea with the Girls’ initiative - which encourages people to host their own tea parties to raise money for research into blood cancers.

The sponge is included in a fundraising pack containing recipe cards from eight patients - while nine more are from celebrities. They include recipes from the original WI Calendar Girls whose fundraising exploits have raised more than £4 million for Bloodwise over the years - and inspired a West End musical.

Mrs Marks, who is married and has one son, Jonathan, 45, said: “I’m not even a great cake maker so it was a struggle to make (back in 2012).

“I’m so happy it’s been chosen to be part of Tea with the Girls, all to help a charity very dear to my heart.”

Mrs Marks herself was diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer, myeloma in 2005 but had a stem cell transplant which improved her condition. Sadly it relapsed this April and she will require another transplant in early September.

She said: “I’ve had nine fantastic years (since the operation) and it doesn’t work for everybody so I’ve been lucky. Hopefully it will go well this time.”

Mrs Marks’ recipe has been professionally designed into a card for inclusion in the online pack.

Diana Jupp, acting CEO of Bloodwise, says: “It’s an honour to be able to share Helen’s favourite tea-time treat.

“She knows only too well the importance of fundraising events like this in ensuring we can continue to fund research into the disease that kills more people each year than breast and prostate cancer.”

For the free fundraising pack and guide to hosting your own event, visit www.bloodwise.org.uk/tea-with-the-girls