Almost £5000 has been raised by The Stray Notes choir for Saint Michael’s Hospice, thanks to the generosity of our audiences.
Each year we raise money for a chosen charity and this year choir member, Lesley Culleton, whose husband Steve was cared for by Saint Michael’s last year, nominated the charity for support in memory of him and other people living with a terminal illness.
Donations for Saint Michael’s were collected at performances in and around Harrogate, including St Mark’s Church and Valley Gardens, as well as in Knaresborough, York, Beamish, Durham Cathedral and Fountain’s Abbey. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets were also donated.
Further funds were raised when the choir sang at Saint Michael’s Light up a Life event last Christmas.
The Stray Notes charity coordinator, Heather Jones, said: “We are delighted with the amount that we have raised for Saint Michael’s Hospice. Our audiences are always so generous and we thank them for helping us to support the vital work of the hospice.”
A cheque for £4723.98 was presented to the hospice’s community events organiser, Isabel Ball.
She said: “On behalf of everyone at Saint Michael’s Hospice, we’re so grateful for the amount the Stray Notes choir has raised over the past year. Their fundraising efforts will help us continue providing vital care for those living with terminal illness in our community. 75 % of our funding comes from our community, with just 25 % provided by the government, so we are very grateful for their continued support and generosity.”
Pictured at the presentation are (left to right): Ruth Janney, chair of the choir committee; Lesley Culleton, choir member; Isabel Ball, Saint Michael’s charity events coordinator; Heather Jones, the choir’s charity coordinator; and Linda Crozier, a member of the choir’s raffle committee.