Brigstock sisters raise hundreds for Cransley hospice

Sisters from Brigstock in East Northants have raised an incredible £927.90 for Cransley Hospice by selling plants.

Lesley French and her sister Aileen have always grown lots of plants for their gardens and decided to sell a variety of flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets when the garden centres closed.

Lesley said: "I know how hard it is for charities like Cransley Hospice to raise funds, particularly at a time like this, and we knew lots of people in the village would want some plants, particularly as the garden centres have been closed."

They made £727.90 and decided to donate the money to Cransley Hospice.

The success of the plant sale encouraged them to do more, so Lesley teamed up with her neighbours Sheila Smith and Carol Morson to make afternoon teas for villagers to celebrate VE Day.

They raised another £200 from donations for their scones and cakes and Lesley said: "Our afternoon teas for VE day were just the icing on the cake!"

The money will be a welcome donation to Cransley, which is a charity and has had many fundraising events cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Community fundraising manager, Louise Preedy, said: "We are so grateful to Lesley, her sister Aileen, Sheila and Carol, for thinking of Cransley and what a great way to raise money!

"It's even more important than ever that we have the support of local fundraisers during this time. Summer is usually our busiest time for fundraising events and this year so many of them are on hold or have had to be cancelled whilst the hospice remains open 24/7.

"We have a number of online fundraising events planned over the coming weeks but supporters like Lesley who organise events in their local community really do make a big difference."

Cransley Hospice need to raise more than £1m every year to carry on delivering specialist palliative care and support for patients and their families in north Northamptonshire.