Garden party boosts hospice funds

A Doncaster widower who held a garden party to raise cash for St John’s Hospice at Balby has just handed over £345.
Roger Smith (53) of Bentley, owner of Fencing 4U, raised the cash from people who bought raffle tickets at a garden party and from a donation. It means over the last three years he’s raised a staggering £7,759 by holding four garden parties and three northern soul and motown events.

Roger started fundraising for St John’s after his partner Cheryl received hospice care there.

Roger said: “I want to thank everyone who came to my event, especially Philly Social Club, Sheffield, who provided the music and to everyone who helped me to stage it.”

Lindsey Richards, of St John’s Hospice, said: “Roger is fantastic and I want to thank him for his latest donation. The garden party and northern soul events have become annual events and Roger has raised so much money for us. Every penny raised goes to make our patients’ lives more comfortable.”

The fund-raising is also continuing via the donation of three prints of a Lancaster bomber which are up for sale at V & A Antiques based on the Woodfield Park site, Balby.

Another item donated at the garden party was a signed photo of former Rovers player Colin Douglas with current player James Coppinger. This has been auctioned on the Hospice Facebook page and raised another £20.