Charity champions! A round-up of East Lancashire's fundraisers making a difference

If you have been raising cash for charity then get in touch with the details and email simone.okane@newsquest.co.uk.

Walk for Veterans in Communities

MACHINE operator Anthony McCormack is planning to walk coast-to-coast to raise money for Veterans In Communities.
Although not a veteran, Anthony, 59, from Stacksteads, wanted to raise money for a charity that worked with armed forces personnel which is when he came across VIC, based in Haslingden and working throughout East Lancashire, Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
He said: “I have been training by walking from home to work at Flexipol in Haslingden, completing my 12 hour shift and then walking home again. It takes me an hour and 50 minutes to do the 5 mile distance and the company has been open throughout the pandemic.”
Anthony will leave St Bees in Cumbria, taking a pebble from the beach, and then walk the 190 mile route to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire carrying a pack and wild camping along the way.
He hopes to complete the trek in a fortnight.
Anthony said: “Once I have completed the coast-to-coast, I hope to do the Whitby to Hull walk, again raising money for charity.”
Anyone wanting to back Anthony’s fundraiser can contact VIC on 01706 833180.

Could you donate your beer money to charity?

HUSBAND and wife duo, Christian and Mandy Davies have donated their weekly beer money to Nightsafe during lockdown.
Christian and Mandy who would normally have enjoyed a few pints of Guinness at their local pub, the Millstone at Mellor, said lockdown stood in the way of their regular evening plans.
The couple, both 52, calculated that they would normally spend around £70 a week in the pub and decided that they would donate their money to Nightsafe.
For the month of May, the couple also donated 10% of their online sales from their business, Christian Davies Antiques in Darwen, raising a further £1,187 for the charity.
Nightsafe has been running for 30 years and recently launched its 100K appeal to ensure the charity can continue with its vital work supporting homeless young people across Blackburn.
To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/night-safe.

Donations make for new village hall floor

READ and Simonstone Village Hall Trustees would like to give a great thanks for the voluntary work done on replacing of the flooring in the Hub and storerooms by Richard Matthews, Terry Ward and Rob McKelvey. Taking the temporary closure due to the pandemic as an opportunity, they set to task while of course observing social distancing rules. 
Very few grants are available to fund materials for maintenance work. So these have been funded by the Village Hall’s £5 monthly charity donation scheme – please see details www.rsvillagehall.uk.

Hospice ball tickets available for 2020

LAST year’s 35th anniversary ball for East Lancashire Hospice was a glittering success and raised an incredible £33,216.
The team at the Park Lee Road charity have announced this year’s ball will take place on Saturday November 28 at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton le Moors.
East Lancs Hospice provides care for those with life limiting illnesses from across our area.
Tickets are priced at £50 per person and this includes drinks on arrival, a delicious three course meal and a fantastic evening of entertainment, with some amazing prizes to be won. Those that attended last year commented that it was “the best ball ever by far”. Contact Sharon Crymble for further information on 01254 287010 or visit www.eastlancshospice.org.uk.

Rescuers can be relied upon

RUMMAGE rescuers provided £521 worth of household items and £537 worth of electrical items free of charge for those in need across Blackburn and Darwen.
Volunteers and workers said that the people who receive items are in genuine need and have been referred through official channels.
In a public announcement on facebook the charity’s volunteers praised local people who make contributions and said: “We couldn’t do this without your kind donations and support for our pound pending scheme.”
Visit www.rummagerescuers.org.