Friends come together for Heather
FRIENDS back home have been lifting the spirits of round-the-world sailor Heather Broadbent with their fundraising support.
Her hopes of raising £40,000 for the Hospice @ Home service run by East Cheshire Hospice have been boosted by new donations totalling more than £1,000.
A winter ball organised by Prestbury Tennis Club raised £600, while The Caravanettes ladies choir donated £448 from their summer concert and appearance at the Christmas treacle market.
Judy Grant, vice-chair of the tennis club, and Claire Sutton, a choir co-founder, are both friends of
Heather. They suggested their groups contribute to her campaign as part of their organisations’ on-going Hospice support.
Heather is preparing to leave the Philippines for the second half of her 11-month voyage.
She said: “I do miss my family and friends at home and it makes me so proud to hear of the fantastic things they’re doing to help me achieve my target for East
Cheshire Hospice.
“I want to thank both Judy and Claire and everyone who contributed.
“It means so much to me to try to raise this money for such a wonderful cause and any help like this from the community is much appreciated.”
Tennis club secretary Lesley Cain worked in the finance department at the Hospice for 17 years before retirement.
She said: “I really like the Hospice @Home concept and my husband Chris, who died in 2017, might well have used the service if it had existed then.
“It started later that year. “Apart from the health benefits of playing tennis, the club has provided me with social and emotional support.”
Lesley’s son Jon has been head coach at the club for 10 years.
For more details about the club visit prestburytennis.org. The Caravanettes got their name after Claire Sutton and her co-founders Claire Thorneycroft and Clare Hayward began singing in a mobile caravan by Macclesfield Canal in
2006.
Now 38-strong, the choir make regular appearances under the leadership of choir master Toby Hinson.
He said: “It was Claire’s suggestion that we support
Heather and her amazing adventure.
“We wish her good luck on her voyage and with her fundraising.”
Visit thecaravanettes. co.uk for more choir details.
To donate to Heather’s campaign visit dreamitnowdoit.com/ fundraising/