Christchurch Carnival celebrates record-breaking fundraising year for charities The Listening Ear, Hengistbury Head Outdoors and Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Team
THREE local charities benefited from a record-breaking year for fundraising by Christchurch Carnival.
More than £6,500 was collected during the weekend celebrations, and chair of the carnival committee Viv Charrett thanked sponsors for making the event possible.
“We are incredibly grateful to every single one”, she said. “It costs in the region of £14,000 to stage the three-day event and special thanks needs to go to Christchurch BID and Christchurch Charitable Trust for their generous donation this year. Support on this level gives us an enormous confidence boost and makes us want to achieve even more.’’
A presentation of images taken from across the carnival weekend was shown to guests at a cheque presentation ceremony.
Charity The Listening Ear, based in Bargates, Christchurch, received £1,913. It provides counselling and mental health support to children and young people aged 5-19 in schools across BCP.
Director Anita Weldonrity said: “This donation will fund essential counselling sessions for five more children from Christchurch.”
Hengistbury Head Outdoors, which wants to rejuvenate the former outdoor activity site into a space for the community, received a cheque for £1,890.
Director Becs Vince said: “We are so grateful to have been chosen as one of Christchurch Carnival’s charities this year. It was a real joy to be so involved across the whole of the carnival weekend.”
The final charity cheque of the evening was awarded to the Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Team, which trains on the river every Saturday morning. It received £2,708.
Ann Scovell, from the organisation, said: “Our mission is a lot more than just raising awareness of breast cancer, it is also to provide support and encouragement to those diagnosed, helping them lead full and active lives whilst having fun with fellow survivors.”
