Portsmouth woman goes without alcohol for a month to help save Milton cafe ransacked by thieves

Tara Sessions, 47, has raised over £300 during her week of abstinence from wine as she does her bit to help The Pure Ground Coffee Shop.

The cafe, located within the Milton Village Community Association, suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage in April.

Staff were left shell-shocked after discovering a damaged door and kitchen cupboard doors ripped off their hinges.

A laptop and empty till were taken from the coffee shop while two doors were damaged beyond repair.

A few items of food were taken from two large freezers, which had been left open – resulting in £100 worth of food being ruined.

The hub offers a lifeline to many elderly and isolated people with its future thrown into doubt following the break-in.

Tara, who lives opposite the association and whose daughter works in the cafe, said: ‘Pure Ground offers a warm and friendly meeting place to all. From the elderly and vulnerable to young families and school children.

‘All its profits go back into the community. This wonderful cafe was burgled and smashed to pieces by mindless thugs. The damage ran into the thousands and staff were left devastated.

‘The burglary and wanton destruction could well have seen this amazing local business close its doors for good.’

The cafe opened again last week with it offering takeaway items but still needs new items following those stolen or destroyed during the burglary.

‘Hopefully I can raise £1,000 by the end of the month to help to get it back up and running and even better than it was before,’ Tara said.

‘I am asking businesses to give raffle prizes and will draw this at the grand reopening.’

Tara, speaking of her challenge to go without alcohol for a month, added: ‘Everyone who knows me, knows that I love a drink or three and so this is a real challenge for me.’

To donate see justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tara-sessions-1

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