Monday 21 March 2016

Cup that cheers to tune of £1000

It was hats on to Easter when our Happy House Spring Coffee morning on Saturday raised more  than £1000..
There was a huge turnout of friends old and new, some who had travelled from as far as Hull, to help and hear more about the Happy House family.
And it was also a chance to meet Mama Sue and Papa Dave, the remarkable couple behind our charity, who are visiting the UK for a few weeks.
They were delighted to see so many people, and Mama Sue had people both laughing and crying as she spoke movingly about the wonderful family she has created at the Happy House and related some anecdotes about the children..
Members of Garstang Inner Wheel,  St Annes Inner Wheel, Thornton Cleveleys Inner Wheel and Fleetwood Rotary were among the guests, as were a group from Ansdell and Fairhaven WI who brought with them a cheque for £125 raised from a money jar, where members leave small change at monthly meetings. Mama is pictured (above right) with WI president Pat Blundell.
Angie Carmon, Janet Zoller, Pauline Royle
She was happy to meet John Cross, Worshipful Master of Normoss Round Table Lodge, and  wife Shelagh and past master, Michael Dickinson.. The Lodge has recently made a £100 donation to Happy House.
Lesley Thomas, deputy district commissioner for Preston Scouts who brought along neckers from local packs for use by the Happy House School scouts.
Mama Sue also received a cheque for £100 from Fylde Soroptimists, presented to her by Maureen Thompson.
There was also time of them to chat to many of the visitors who wanted to know a little more about the Happy House or to ask after their sponsor child.
Business was brisk on the tombola and other stalls selling handicrafts, cakes, bric-a-brac and books.
Some of our younger visitors had great fun making their Easter bonnets with a little help from Joanne Rossall, her daughter Charlotte and Amy Shuttleworth, a student in her form at St Aidan's..

Ellie Bancroft
Papa Dave had the demanding task of judging the Easter Bonnet parade and eventually declared ir a draw so everyone received a prize!
The coffee morning,  held in Poulton Methodist Church Hall, raised a wonderful £852.1, so with the cheque donations added the morning raised more than £1000!
Plus the promise of three new sponsors for our children.
Many, many thanks to everyone who came along, to all those who helped in any way and to Poulton Methodist Church for giving us the use of the hall and for all their help, with a special mention of Ken and Ann Carr,
Top: Garstang Inner Wheel, below left: St Annes Inner Wheel, right: Margaret Thompson.
Every penny raised will make a difference to the lives of children.