Chelsea Hughes brews up a fundraising storm

Chelsea Hughes (middle, holding the full cake) surrounded by some of her friends and helpers

Heywood teenager Chelsea Hughes served up a fundraising treat for two special charities with a Charity Coffee Morning at St Luke’s Church on Saturday that raised over £500.

Chelsea and her team of helpers served up tea, coffee and cake and a selection of hot and cold food from 11am to 4pm in the Church Hall on York Street to raise money for Springhill Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Care.

It was the first time Chelsea, aged 17, has taken on a task of this kind and she was spurred on by the excellent care received by close family members from both organisations.

She said: “Both my grandad and my auntie were looked after and received such amazing care that I wanted to give something back by raising some money.

“I know how much they rely on people fundraising in the community to be able to continue to provide the services that they do.

“I also wanted to show my friend Rachel Whitton, who helped me to organise the coffee morning, how proud we all are of her.”

In addition to refreshments there were prize raffles, face painting, nail painting and children’s games all of which helped to swell the fundraising coffers on the day.

Chelsea added: “I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated prizes or volunteered to help and to all the people who came along to support us and helped to raise so much money."

Congratulating Chelsea on her efforts, Barbara Lloyd, Community Support Fundraiser at Springhill Hospice, said, “Chelsea has done a brilliant job organising this and I’m so glad it was such a success. They raised an amazing total on the day and it is thanks to people like Chelsea that the Hospice can continue its work looking after people with life limiting illnesses, and their families, free of charge.”

All proceeds will be shared between both charities together with a donation of 10% to St Luke’s Church which provided the facilities free of charge.