THE Raise the Roof appeal has been boosted by more than £4,000 thanks to two groups of fundraisers.

Darwen mum-of-two Louise Oldfield held a garden party and auction, generating more than £2,000 for the Lancashire Telegraph campaign.

And pals Rob Mason and Steven Howard, of Blackburn, and brothers Nick and Neil Hirst, of Colne, matched that amount when they cycled the length of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

The Raise the Roof appeal aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over East Lancashire Hospice’s inpatient unit, in Park Lee Road, Blackburn.

Louise, 41, enlisted the help of her family for the party at their home in Woodlands Grove, with daughter Jess, 10, organ-ising a ‘name the teddy bear’ competition.

She thanked local band Cherrybomb who performed on the day, and businesses across the town who donated prizes, including a mountain bike, Lancashire Cricket Club tickets, and meals at Darwen restaurants.

She said: “I’m still shocked about how much we raised.

“I said if we’re going to do a big party, I’d like to do it for a good cause and a local charity.

“A lot of my friends and family have needed to pay the hospice a visit from time to time. My husband lost his grandad and my friend lost her mum to cancer, and my grand-ad was in there as well.”

Rob and his friends completed the 127-mile canal route in just 17-and-a-half hours.

He wanted to raise funds after his dad died at the hospice in May last year. Mick Mason, 60, suffered mesothelioma brought on by asbestosis, and was given palliative nursing care by the charity’s Hospice at Home team.

Rob, 37, from Pleckgate, said: “The hospice was fantastic with my dad and I can’t sing their praises highly enough. I’m really proud of all of us that did it. I think we did really well.

“We had quite a bit of help with people stopping off with food and supplies, so thank you to them as well.”

The Raise the Roof appeal has now reached around £82,000.

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.