A recent celebrity fundraising lunch has sparked excitement in Stamford as it aims to support the establishment of a new sub-group dedicated to the Cambridge Children’s Hospital (CCH) campaign. The event, which took place on April 10 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Peterborough, featured best-selling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer as the guest of honour. His captivating anecdotes from a remarkable 50-year career kept attendees entertained while he also signed copies of his latest novel, ‘End Game’.
The lunch was not just an entertaining affair; it raised an impressive £4,400 for the CCH campaign, which is working tirelessly to create a regional children’s hospital. Since its inception less than two years ago, the CCH Peterborough community group has successfully raised £30,000, showcasing the community's commitment to this vital cause.
Ruth Utting, an experienced fundraiser from Ketton, attended the event with friends and expressed her belief in the potential for a local Stamford support group. "I am sure there is an opportunity locally to raise awareness of this important project," she said. Ruth noted that they had been spreading the word about the event, which they found immensely enjoyable. She sees a clear opening for Stamford to host similar fundraising events.
Community group chairman John Holdich echoed this enthusiasm, stating, "It was an absolute joy to welcome Lord Archer as our guest of honour, and we hope the momentum generated will help expand our activities further to include supporters in Stamford and Rutland." He encouraged anyone interested in getting involved to reach out.
The CCH campaign, co-chaired by Jeffrey Archer’s wife, Mary, is dedicated to raising funds for the future facility, which aims to provide essential healthcare services to children in the region. Those interested in supporting this worthy cause can find more information on their website at cambridgechildrens.org.uk.
As the community rallies together for this important initiative, it opens the floor for discussions about how Stamford can contribute to the wellbeing of its youngest residents. What ideas do you have for fundraising events that could support this vital cause?