Caitlin Jones is at it again, raising as much as she can for East Lancashire Hospice!

To mark the tenth anniversary of her father Nigel’s death, Caitlin has set herself an ambitious target of raising £10,000 altogether for the hospice. Caitlin and her Mum Tracy came to the hospice last week to present a cheque for an amazing £8054.63 raised through her fundraising endeavours so far.

Caitlin recently arranged a crafty charity event which took place at The Whitehall Hotel in Darwen on 17 and 18 February 2018. The two-day craft workshop was arranged with guest - Craft Channel regular Jodie Johnson. Caitlin, 22, has been supporting the hospice since her father, Nigel died from lung cancer on the 12 February 2008. The hospice offered Caitlin bereavement support - therein, Caitlin’s attachment to East Lancashire Hospice was made.

Caitlin said: “I went there for bereavement support after my father died. Since then, East Lancashire Hospice has been really close to my heart. I’m very close to the team and I don’t think I would be in the place I am now if they hadn’t been there.” Mum Tracy says the hospice were incredible. “If she hadn’t had the counselling, Caitlin wouldn’t be able to speak about her dad now with a smile, with fondness and with love.”

Last year Caitlin helped to add thousands towards her fundraising total, including £1,400 raised by working alongside Restricted Events. Tickets for the two-day craft workshop sold out within 24 hours of the event being announced and the mother/daughter fundraising team, who are both keen crafters asked local businesses to get involved by contributing prizes for the charity raffle.

Tracy Jones said: “One of the aims of this has been to put Darwen on the map and to show how Darreners support each other. Our thanks go to local businesses Woods Fruit and Vegetables in Darwen, Finch Bakery in Great Harwood, Trevor Adams Photography, Inspirations of Preston, Lynette Jasper and various crafters who have donated lots of wonderful crafty things. Most of all our thanks go to The Whitehall Hotel for allowing the event to be held there and for all their support and to Jodie Johnson for helping support Caitlin in her endeavours to raise as much as she can in memory of her father, Nigel.

The event has been such a success that they are already planning another next year to be held at the Whitehall Hotel again.

(Pictured L-R: Creative Therapy Assistant Louise Duxbury, hospice patient Rosie Nakhuda, Caitlin Jones and Sharon Crymble Fundraising Manager)