CHARITY FOCUS
Live Ribble Valley takes a look at the many and varied charity projects that are taking place in towns and villages across the region
CARDBOARD SLEEP-OUT
Whalley Cub Scouts, aged between eight and 10, held a ‘cardboard sleep-out’ to find out for themselves what being homeless is like. As well as seeing for themselves how hard homelessness is, the cubs were sponsored by friends and relatives so they could give money to the Blackburn charity Night Safe. The cubs and leaders spent a Friday night building a ‘cardboard city’ in Whalley Village Hall and although the cubs were excited to build their dens, they were also interested to hear what Jan, from Night Safe, told them. Learning that Night Safe had to turn people away during the winter due to limited room, helped the cubs realise how important their fundraising was.
HEY – THEY DID IT YET AGAIN!
Local bands Tyro and Northern Sports Club, (NSC), helped ensure the third Hey Clitheroe fund-raiser was again a huge success. Nearly 300 people packed in to The Grand for the annual music extravaganza in aid of Alder Hey Children’s Charity and the Alder Hey Family House Trust, (more widely known as Ronald McDonald House). A total of £4,000 from the night means the organisers have now raised more than £16,000 since the first event back in 2016. Hey Clitheroe co-founder Derek Russell said: “It was without doubt another fantastic night for us and our community. There were so many highlights on the evening.” The money raised on the night was boosted by more than £1,400 thanks to a raffle which featured more than 50 prizes which had been donated by local businesses and individuals.
THIRTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Blackburn with Darwen District Without Abuse (BDDWA), which supports victims of domestic abuse and their families, is celebrating its 30th year. As a small private charity providing a service to local people, the organisation is funded wholly by grants and donations and, in what is their third decade, they have set themselves a £30,000 challenge. Alongside a crowdfunding campaign the group is planning a number of local events throughout the year. More details can be found on their website and Facebook page (The WISH Centre).
TONIC FOR ROSEMERE
A limited run of fruity gin made by Brindle Distillery was just the tonic for charity Rosemere. At a special tasting evening, Copa Fizz sold bottles for £45 each, donating at least £10 to Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s 20 Years Anniversary Appeal, which is raising £1.5 million to fund a trio of ground-breaking projects. Around £4,000 was raised on the night. The appeal and Rosemere are causes especially close to Copa Fizz’s owner Gillian Bartlett’s heart. Mum-of-two Gillian, founded the company last year with close friend Louise McParland. A year earlier, 41-year-old Louise, also a mum-of-two, had been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. Louise became a patient at Rosemere Cancer Centre but sadly, passed away in January this year. Gillian, who hopes to make the fund-raiser an annual event, said: “I am continuing with the business and all the plans we had for it because I know this is what Louise would want me to do. She was especially keen as the business grew for us to grow our support for Rosemere and launching the Copa Fizz Rosemere Gin is a way of doing this.”
If you have any charity news please contact: jan.woolley@live-magazines.co.uk
