Burnham Hospital fete raises £900 (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Burnham Hospital fete raises £900

2:10pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in News

ORGANISERS of a fundraising fete for Burnham’s Hospital refused to let downpours ruin the fun when they moved the event indoors – still raising more than £900.

The annual Bank Holiday Hospital Fete was cancelled on Monday but the Friends of Burnham Hospital held a scaled-down event at St Andrew’s Church Hall.

Hundreds braved high winds and rain to support their hospital and helped raise cash at the event, which usually brings in around £3,500 when it’s held in the Manor Gardens.

Vice Chairman of the Friends of Burnham Hospital, Bernard Spilsbury, told the Weekly News: “We made the committee decision to move it on the morning. This is only the second time in 20 years it has been rained off.

“We couldn’t accommodate all the charities in the hall but we still held our own bric-a-brac, bottles stand, raffle and teas and cake stalls.

“We made around £900, which is better than nothing. We would never think of totally cancelling it, even though Manor Gardens was a washout.

“Everybody is used to it being held on Bank Holiday Monday so we were determined to hold it regardless of the weather. We refused to let it get the better of us.”

The group also signed up more Friends members and thanked supporters and volunteers.