THE East Lancashire Hospice Raise the Roof Appeal has taken a huge step forward thanks to pupils at a Blackburn primary school.

Children at Feniscowles Primary School raised a whopping £5,452 by taking part in a sponsored walk around the playground.

The school council decided to back the campaign after pupil Claudia Boardman’s father Peter, 46, died in the hospice in February, eight months after he was diagnosed with terminal lung and bone cancer.

Hospice fundraising manager Sharon Crymble, who collected the bumper cheque, praised the school for supporting the appeal.

She said: “We were absolutely astounded when we heard the amount they raised.

“It was one of their biggest fundraising efforts.

“This amount of money is a fantastic boost to our target.”

The schoolchildren raised the cash by walking the same distance, around 2.5 miles, from the hospice to the school around the playground.

The Lancashire Telegraph launched a fundraising campaign in March to raise £125,000 for repairs to the 27-year-old building’s roof.

The hospice, in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, already needs to raise £2.8million each year to continue supporting people in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley who have terminal and life-threatening diseases.

It relies on fundraising, donations and grants to help offer specialist, supportive and end-of-life care for patients and their families, both at the hospice and in their own home.

But now, after nearly three decades of wear and tear, the roof of the building has fallen into disrepair.

Sharon said £96,000 had been raised so far.

She said: “We didn't know how bad the roof was until the rain started to show.

“We were planning to hit the target by March next year, but we’re really going for it and will hopefully hit it by Christmas.”

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.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.