Tireless fundraisers nominated for Community Gold Award (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Tireless fundraisers nominated for Community Gold Award

11:09am Tuesday 14th September 2010 in News By Manisha Mistry

TWO tireless fundraisers who have raised thousands of pounds for sick children across Hertfordshire are the latest to be nominated in the Review's search for unsung heroes in the district.

Janice Butcher has been fundraising in the community for some 30 years and for the past 20 she has dedicated her time to supporting Keech Hospice Care.

Each August 72-year-old Janice, along with her husband John and with the help of her friend Angela Wildman, hosts a strawberry tea party with all proceeds being donated to the charity.

Fundraiser at Keech Janice O'Neill has nominated Janice and Angela for a Community Gold Award – a scheme which is run by the Review in conjunction with St Albans solicitors Debenhams Ottaway.

Speaking about her nomination, Janice, of Stanley Avenue, Chiswell Green, said: “Over the years I have done my best to let people round here know about it and I hope I have achieved quite a bit through the events.

“Angela came on the scene about four or five years ago when she started coffee mornings and when our garden became too small I asked if I could hold it at hers.”

Last month the strawberry tea party, which attracted crowds through the door, was held at Angela's home in Hazel Road, Park Street. The event managed to raised £1,500.

Nominating the pair, Janice said: “Janice and Angela put a lot of hard work in every year and always manage to host a successful charity event for Keech.

“Through their work they are supporting the children and the charity in many other ways. They completely deserve to be recognised for this.

“It's like non-stop and I praise them for carrying on at their age.”

As well as fundraising, Janice teaches arts and crafts every week, inviting people to try their hand at home furnishings, cards and crochet.

She added: “Charity is my life and my world – I thrive on it. But it's not just me because all my family help.”