AN APPEAL to bring a poorly Burnley grandmother home from Portugal is approaching the £10,000 mark.
Relatives of Doreen Blackburn, 78, are trying to raise £12,000 to fly her home in a specialist air ambulance after she suffered a double stroke before Christmas.
A host of fundraising activity in the past fortnight, prompted after the Lancashire Telegraph reported the family’s predicament in February, has seen them edge close to the total.
Pamela Blackburn, Doreen’s daughter-in-law, said: “People say there’s no community spirit anymore, but they need to come to Lancashire.
“The people here have been absolutely amazing with their support and generosity. We’ve had letters of support from complete strangers, saying to keep on battling. It’s overwhelming and really encouraging.”
Doreen’s daughter, Sharon Borrowdale, added: “We’ve got £6,041 on the JustGiving website and £1,800 in cheques to the air ambulance, plus money still to collect from sponsors.
“The Morris Dancers pub in Colne had a weekend of fundraising last weekend and raised £1,002 altogether. It’s unbelievable how brilliant people have been with us and we are literally overwhelmed by everyone’s support.”
Doreen was originally due to be released from a Red Cross rehabilitation centre in Tavira on Monday ((17)), but her stay has been extended until March 31.
She lived with her husband, Maurice, in Harle Syke before moving to Albufeira in 1998.
The couple ran the Moorgate Arms and King’s Head pubs in Blackburn in the 1990s.
To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/yimby/bringbackdoreen