Town gets behind Christian Aid Week in crisis
THE town has generously responded to a call for support during Christian Aid Week by smashing a fund-raising target set down in response to the lockdown.
The week-long initiative usually raises around £3,500 to support people around the world but, with some of its main sources of donations cut off, the Ashbourne group set a fresh target of £1,500.
However this was reached very quickly and a fresh target of £2,311 – the amount raised during Christian Aid Week last year - was set. But it has already been surpassed. Christian Aid Week runs from Sunday, May 10, until Saturday, May 16, and Ashbourne’s total is usually boosted by a house-to-house collection and a popular stall at Tissington Well Dressings.
But with lockdown measures meaning these activities would be impossible, the volunteers hastily arranged alternative ways to raise money online – and so far more than £2,500 has been raised for Christian Aid.
Volunteer Liz Hurfurt said: “In the Ashbourne area, hundreds of people usually support our Christian Aid Week appeal by making a small donation.
“Many people have already made very generous donations and I would like to thank them for their support.
“This is another great example of how our local community pulls together to support those who need our help.”
Fund-raising has been centred around an Ashbourne page on the Justgiving website and, on Saturday, the group held a virtual online quiz, which saw more than 60 people taking part.
Mrs Hurfurt said: “The quiz night was great fun and we were delighted to welcome participants from the Ashbourne area, Wales, Nottingham, Berkshire and Yorkshire. “The youngest participant, who was also on the winning team, was aged six, while the oldest was 92.
“It was a wonderful evening.” Christian Aid is a UK charity working with local partners to end poverty worldwide and tackle the injustices that keep people poor. Christian Aid Week has been held every year since 1957. Later this month the Ashbourne Christian Aid group will be inviting everyone to join in with virtual coffee and cake over the video conferencing platform Zoom on Sunday, May 24.
As well as the meeting, at which people can join and chat with others, photographs from previous Tissington Well Dressings will be shown.
To find out more, visit justgiving.com/ashbourne-christian-aid or call Stuart Green on 01335 300338.
This is another great example of how our local community pulls together
Liz Hurfurt