Residents hail community spirit after fundraising for terminally ill children
RESIDENTS at a Muir sheltered housing scheme have raised more than £670 for a children’s charity dedicated to helping seriously and terminally ill children.
People living at Smithy Court in Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, have been fundraising for the Wirral-based Claire House Hospice for the last six months, and have now handed over a cheque to the charity which will help all of the children there to have a merry Christmas.
Avril Parr, Wirral Community Fundraiser for the volunteer-run hospice, paid tribute to tenants for their “amazing” donation, and residents hailed their own community spirit as they already turn their attention towards more fundraising work in the New Year.
“It is an incredible amount,” said Avril upon receiving the cheque for £678.69 (as pictured here with scheme manager John Fletcher).
“It will really make a difference to the hospice and the children there.
“For some it will be their first Christmas with us, but for others, it will be their last, so this donation will really help to bring a smile to their faces.”
Avril revealed that Father Christmas is set to jet into the hospice by helicopter on the big day, and residents were delighted to make sure he arrives on time after raising money through a variety of different events.
John Fletcher, Sheltered Scheme Officer at Smithy Court for nine years said: “The residents like to keep themselves busy and have been hosting cake sales, raffles, prize games and selling some of the knitwear they make, as well as donating their own pennies towards the final total.
“There is a great community spirit here and they all rally round.”
One resident, Marjorie Chesters, 85, (pictured far left with John Fletcher and Joyce Jones), is one of 43 people currently living at Smithy Court.
She said: “It is all for a very good cause.
“Claire House do a lot of good work for the children so we are pleased to help.”
The Smithy Court residents enjoy regular coffee mornings, a social club, party nights, day trips and even benefit from an on-site shop.
Mandy Carroll, (pictured below centre with granddaughter Florine and residents Bea Ault [left] and Barbara Wall) a Personnel Clerk at Asda which donated a cake from one of its own ‘bake-off’ events for the residents to raffle in aid of the charity said: “Asda has a good relationship with Smithy Court and my mother, Flo, is a former resident here.
“We are very active in the local community and happy to be involved.”
Flo Hammond was the scheme’s first shop keeper, serving a number of essential items to residents at the Muir Group Housing Association site.
Joyce Jones, 89, has lived at Smithy Court for several years and said: “It is a very nice community.
“I didn’t think I would adapt but it is amazing how quickly you do.
“Coming here was the best thing I ever did.”
64-year-old Barbara Wall also lives at Smithy Court, along with her mother, and said: “It is very nice here and there is a good atmosphere.”
Residents will now turn their attention to raising money for The Meningitis Trust over the next six months, having raised more than £4,000 for various charities during the last five years.
Bea Ault, 78, a resident at Smithy Court for more than eight years said: “We all do our bit to raise money for things.
“I love it here, it’s all go and we enjoy it.”
To learn more about the good work done by Claire House Hospice, visit www.clairehouse.org.uk
