Hearts of Moggerhanger holding grand prize draw to help Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice

Christina Boxall, along with her chums Sheila Springell, Judi Hobbs, Geraldine Clarke and Ruth Norman have been holding stalls in Potton, Sandy and Biggleswade to raise funds for their local hospice, which has struggled financially during the crisis.

The team has so far made around £5,000 and aims to raise more, with another stall planned this Saturday and a grand prize draw on September 19.

Christina, 70, said: “I lost my husband in December and St John’s were a lifeline to us.

“They are struggling in the present climate, so I want to give something back.

“Most people probably think, like I did, the hospice is for end of life. Yes, in some cases it is, but they offer so much more. They are there for people with life-limiting illnesses and give support to families.”

Christina’s husband Tony passed away on December 30 aged 72 after suffering from Multiple System Atrophy, a neurological condition which causes your organs to break down. He received help from St John’s Hospice for 18 months and for the last two days of his life the palliative care nurses “virtually moved into the house, with care, compassion and skill”.

Christina added: “They became friends to both of us and they said that Tony was such a lovely man.

“He had a dreadful illness but he never complained. Whatever they did he would always thank them, right up until the end when he could hardly speak.

“When you’re ill you want to be at home don’t you? They made it easier to cope and I felt like somebody had lifted a weight off my shoulders. Tony was very grateful to them.”

Christina is now hoping that residents will support the Hearts for Moggerhanger’s final fundraising push.

This Saturday, September 12, they will be holding a stall in Potton Market Square, from 9.30am-1pm, selling items such as books, puzzles and bric a brac.

On the following Saturday (September 19), the team will be back at Potton Market Square to hold a prize draw at 12.30pm.

The public can purchase tickets from Potton in: the Elephant and Feather, Cameron’s Newsagents and Tysoe’s, as well as at the stall this Saturday. The first prize is £400, which was kindly donated by The Brogan Group,

Other prizes include: golf for four at John O Gaunt Golf Club; luxury hampers; beauty boxes; half a case of red wine; alcohol; vouchers for local shops, hair and beauty salons, and restaurants; a chocolate bouquet, and more! There are more than 20 prizes.

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/christina-boxall