A record breaking £20,000 has been raised for Saint Francis Hospice through its Light up a Life service in Brentwood.
Around 450 people packed out St Thomas Church in St Thomas Road for the service and the final figure shows a whopping £20,861 was raised for the hospice in Havering atte Bower which is £6,890 more than last year.
Money was raised by people sponsoring a symbolic light on the tree outside the church in memory of a loved one. The lights were lit every day throughout Christmas and on a tree in the hospice grounds.
Hospice fundraising manager, Valerie Fletcher, said: "We are amazed at the response we have had this year.
"It was wonderful to see so many people come again and Light up a Life, the evening was a success despite the awful weather. It is a service with a very special atmosphere, which people are beginning to come back to year after year."
A special thank you was also extended to Lloyd Scott, the man who completed the London marathon in a 130lb antique diving suite, for turning the lights.
Valerie added: "I would like to thank everybody for supporting our campaign, particularly Lloyd Scott for turning the lights on for us this year."
Other special guests at the service included the Mayor and Mayoress of Brentwood, Derek and Marjorie Hardy, Mayor and Mayoress of Havering, Peter Gardner and Corinne Simmons and Mayor of Barking and Dagenham June Conyard and her escort Frederick Conyard.
Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003
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