PLEA OVER MOTHER TOWN’S FESTIVE TREE:
Mother Town launches campaign to raise £1,000 for Christmas switch-on
A TOWN has appealed for help to keep Christmas spirit alive – by launching a fundraiser to buy a tree.
Burslem has been permitted a one-day festive market by Stoke-on-trent
City Council on November 27, the night of the lights switch-on.
Santa Claus
APPEAL: June Cartwright. will not be attending this year’s event, but it will be livestreamed for families to gather round in the safety of their homes to see the town’s lights.
And community leaders in Burslem are hoping to raise ar around £1 £1,000 for a Ch Christmas tree to keep the to town’s spirits up during the fe festive season.
Th The cr crowdfunding ca campaign is being ism managed by th the Facebook co community pa page Our B Burslem and its founder, June Cartwright. June explained the group already had around £3,500 in the bank for lights but wanted a bigger and better tree than ever before to see families ‘through this dreadful year’.
She said: “We’re fundraising for the tree ourselves. We can’t have our usual Christmas event like we normally would but we are going to have a Christmas market on November 27 when we switch the lights on.
“We’re also going to live stream it so people will be able to see it from home as well.
“We’ve asked for £1,000. It’s going to cost us £4,500 but the £1,000 will be mainly for the tree.
“Last year we spent about £800 on the tree but somebody has pledged £50 if we have a tree bigger than Newcastle’s. After this year we all need something to cheer us up don’t we?
“We usually have cakes and things for the children from Wrights but we won’t be able to do that this year.
“Father Christmas can’t be here either. But we’re going to make sure the children have something.”
The event will be held in Queen Street market place and the tree will be placed opposite the Red Lion pub at Burslem town centre.
Our Burslem’s fundraisers hold events throughout the year to raise funds for the Christmas festivities.
Stoke-on-trent City Council does not pay money towards the festivities, lights or tree.